Political Season Continues with Runoff Elections

Just when you thought it was over, the political season goes on a little longer. In 19 days, voters in Harrison, Hancock, and Stone Counties will return to the polls to decide a runoff election in the Circuit Court Judge race. What’s the judgment on those political signs on the side of the road?

For the Circuit 2 Judge race, they get a nearly three week stay of execution. On November 25th, the two remaining candidates, Chris Schmidt and Robert Fant Walker, will square off again in their fight for the bench. Schmidt says, “I’ve been a lawyer, a practicing lawyer for 19 years, and for 15 of those years, I served as an Assistant D.A. in this district.”

Walker says, “For the last five years, I’ve been a municipal court judge for one of the largest municipal courts in the State of Mississippi. I was an Assistant District Attorney for Harrison, Hancock, and Stone Counties.”

The winner of this election will preside over major criminal cases. Walker also says, “A circuit court judge hears cases that carry over a year in prison, so your felony offenses.” The winner will also preside over large civil cases. Schmidt also says, “Automobile accidents involving significant damages, contract disputes, medical malpractice, anything that is not necessarily small claims court.”

According to unofficial election results published Wednesday in the Sun Herald, Schmidt led with 42% of the vote while Walker brought in 34%. A third candidate, Myles Sharp, got 24% of the vote, but he will not be on the runoff ballot. Schmidt says, “We were very surprised at the results, but not unexpected given the level of support we’ve received in the community.”

According to campaign finance reports submitted to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office, Walker’s campaign raised and spent twice as much money as Schmidt’s, but Schmidt rounded up 3,700 votes more than Walker. Some speculate that voters view Walker as lacking in experience, something the younger candidate takes issue with. Walker closes, “In Gulfport Municipal Court, we hear lots of cases. It’s not just traffic violations. We hear some very serious offences in that court, domestic violence cases, D.U.I. cases, shoplifting cases, all of which are ‘enhanceable’ offences that end up in circuit court.”

Voters will make the final decision on November 25th. Some of you have asked if Robert Fant Walker is related to south Mississippi’s federal judge, Robert Walker. Robert Fant Walker is the federal judge’s son.