Harrison County Board of Supervisors’ Race Heats Up
The Harrison County Board of Supervisors race is heating up in the wake of federal and criminal indictments over the past year. Tomorrow’s primary will be the start of a new chapter for the board.
There have been a lot of changes over the past year in this board room, changes due to scandals and resignations. One of those resignations, by former Supervisor Kim Savant, landed former Board Attorney Joe Meadows in the District 2 seat earlier this year, a position he has opted not to parlay into a full time supervisor’s seat. “I was the board attorney for 19 and half years. After about five years or so, this vacancy came up and I was asked to serve and I’ve really enjoyed it,” said Meadows.
Three Republicans will battle for the District 2 seat in tomorrow’s primaries. Since there is no Democratic contender, this race could be decided by voters tomorrow, should one of the three candidates round up 50 percent of the vote plus one.
Another hotly contested race is the county’s District 4 supervisor’s seat, also taken over earlier this year after the suicide of former Supervisor William Martin. Like Meadows, John Johnson will not be running for the position, but says all incoming supervisors should be prepared for a full-time job. “Someone that’s willing to work. Someone that works at this job, full-time, that can take that. And someone that’s people oriented and listens to the people and sees what their needs are.”
Eleven candidates are running for the District 4 seat. Ten of those are Democrats and will be facing off in tomorrow’s primaries and will run against the District’s only Republican candidate in the November general election.
Incumbent District 3 Supervisor Marlin Ladner will face his only opponent in November. District 1 Supervisor Windy Swetman is bringing his two term tenure to a close. “It’s been a humbling experience. Something I’ve truly enjoyed, working for the people,” said Swetman, “Twenty three and half years in public service. It’s bittersweet.”
Three Republicans are running for Swetman’s District 1 seat, which could be decided in tomorrow’s primary should one candidate round up the majority vote.
There have been a lot of changes over the past year in this board room, changes due to scandals and resignations. One of those resignations, by former Supervisor Kim Savant, landed former Board Attorney Joe Meadows in the District 2 seat earlier this year, a position he has opted not to parlay into a full time supervisor’s seat. “I was the board attorney for 19 and half years. After about five years or so, this vacancy came up and I was asked to serve and I’ve really enjoyed it,” said Meadows.
Three Republicans will battle for the District 2 seat in tomorrow’s primaries. Since there is no Democratic contender, this race could be decided by voters tomorrow, should one of the three candidates round up 50 percent of the vote plus one.
Another hotly contested race is the county’s District 4 supervisor’s seat, also taken over earlier this year after the suicide of former Supervisor William Martin. Like Meadows, John Johnson will not be running for the position, but says all incoming supervisors should be prepared for a full-time job. “Someone that’s willing to work. Someone that works at this job, full-time, that can take that. And someone that’s people oriented and listens to the people and sees what their needs are.”
Eleven candidates are running for the District 4 seat. Ten of those are Democrats and will be facing off in tomorrow’s primaries and will run against the District’s only Republican candidate in the November general election.
Incumbent District 3 Supervisor Marlin Ladner will face his only opponent in November. District 1 Supervisor Windy Swetman is bringing his two term tenure to a close. “It’s been a humbling experience. Something I’ve truly enjoyed, working for the people,” said Swetman, “Twenty three and half years in public service. It’s bittersweet.”
Three Republicans are running for Swetman’s District 1 seat, which could be decided in tomorrow’s primary should one candidate round up the majority vote.
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