By William Moore
Daily Journal
TUPELO – It’s good to be a sitting sheriff in Northeast Mississippi.
All 14 incumbents either won their elections, advanced to a runoff or moved on to the general election.
The sheriffs in Alcorn and Chickasaw counties did not seek re-election.
In Alcorn County, Democrats David Derrick and Mike LaRue were the front runners in a five-man Democratic primary. They will meet again in the Aug. 25 runoff to see who will advance to face a Republican and two Independents in November.
In Chickasaw County, James Myers picked up 42 percent of the vote in a seven-man Democratic field. He will face Crossley Ford in the runoff.
Benton County Sheriff Arnie McMullen was just 36 votes shy of winning the three-man primary outright. Instead, he will face John Lane Hobson in three weeks in the runoff.
In Itawamba County, incumbent Chris Dickinson earned 55 percent of the vote to win a four-way primary that included two former sheriffs. He will face Republican Glenn Jenkins in November.
Tishomingo County Sheriff Glenn Whitlock finished second in a four-man race but will still advance to the Democratic run-off with John Dennis Daugherty. On the Republican side, Mike Higginbottom got 53 percent of the vote to edge two other candidates.
william.moore@journalinc.com