Tax Assessor/Collector Special Election in Pearl River County

PEARL RIVER COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)- The initial numbers are in after a special election in two Picayune precincts for the 2023 Pearl River County Tax Collector Race.

This race has faced recounts and legal challenges for two years after just a two-vote margin between candidates Jo Lynn Houston and Sandy Kane Smith in the original election.

According to unofficial returns Tuesday night, Kane Smith leads by a margin of five votes with 3,064 votes to Houston’s 3,059 after adding the results from the election.

As of right now, Smith narrowly won the Picayune southside precinct while Houston narrowly took the Picayune 2 precinct.

There are still around 36 affidavit and mail in ballots still left to count, which may not be finalized until next week so these numbers are set to change.

Once the results are confirmed and certified, the winner will replace long-time Tax Assessor Gary Beech, who has remained in the role since the 2023 elections in an interim capacity.