Despite a low turnout in the August 29 runoff election in Forrest and Lamar counties, Forrest County voters have ushered in a new tax collector and supervisor, while Lamar County voters have selected a new constable.
In final but unofficial results from the runoff – which was necessitated after none of the following candidates received the necessary 50 percent of the vote plus one in the August 8 primary election – Zac Howell will be the new tax collector in Forrest County, while Gentry Mordica will serve as the next District 1 Supervisor. Lamar County will see Jason Ashely take over as the new constable in District 1.
However, the race for District 4 Justice Court Judge in Forrest County was too close to call during election night, as officials were still counting ballots between Democratic candidates Decarlo C. Hood and Robert Davis.
Results are as follows:
Forrest County
- Tax collector: Republican Zac Howell defeated challenger David Hogan, 3,074 votes to 2,538. Hogan currently serves as the president of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors, while Howell is the current deputy tax collector for the county. Howell wins the election with the August 29 runoff, as there is no other candidate running in the upcoming November 7 general election. Hogan and Howell were the two candidates with the most votes in the August 8 primary election.
- District 1 Supervisor: Republican Gentry Mordica defeated Wesley Clark in the runoff, 1,133 votes to 533. Mordica will take the seat, as there are no other challengers in the general election. Mordica currently serves as District 1 election commissioner and will take over for Hogan; a special election will be held to fill the commissioner seat.
- The Democratic Justice Court District 4 Judge race between Decarlo C. Hood and Robert Davis was too close to call during election night, with Hood bringing in 262 votes to Davis’ 260. Officials still were counting affidavit votes at the end of election day. There are no other candidates in the general election for this race.
Lamar County
- The District 1 Constable race saw Jason Ashley take the seat over Lance Emfinger, 715 votes to 347. Ashley garnered 1,181 votes (38.75 percent) in the primary election, while Emfinger received 516 votes (16.93 percent). Other candidates in the primary were Chip Estes with 162 votes (5.32 percent), Bryan Ford with 473 votes (15.52 percent), Frank “Gam” Gambino with 370 votes (12.14 percent), Timothy Webb with 240 votes (7.87 percent) and Dearl Head with 98 votes (3.22 percent). This race will not see a challenger in the general election.
A total of 6,149 residents turned up to vote in Forrest County, while 1,063 Lamar County residents turned out to cast a ballot.
