Five of the 24 contested chancery and circuit court judge races in Mississippi are headed for a run-off on Nov. 25.
The only chancery run-off is for District 13, Place 2 (Simpson, Smith, Lawrence, Jefferson Davis, Covington) to fill the seat left open following the resignation of Judge Joe Dale Walker who pled guilty last month to federal obstruction of justice. Taylorsville attorney Gerald Martin led the three-person field on November 4 with 41 percent of the vote: a nearly 1800-vote lead over second-place Collins attorney Mary K. Burnham. Martin – attorney for the Smith County Economic Development District and prosecutor for the Town of Raleigh – outraised Burnham $9,199 to $1,440 according to the most recent campaign finance reports.
In Circuit District 2, Place 2 (Harrison, Hancock, Stone) former assistant district attorney Chris Schmidt led with 42 percent of the vote, despite being out-raised more than 2 to 1 by second place finisher Robert Fant Walker. Walker raised $214,691 in the race to Schmidt’s $86,781. Walker, a Gulfport municipal judge, is the son of a former circuit court judge and now federal magistrate and great-nephew of former Mississippi Chief Justice Harry Walker. The incumbent in this race, John C. Gargiulo, was appointed federal magistrate and withdrew from reelection.
Madison County Journal
11/12/14
Magnolia Tribune
