Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 13

Wednesday, August 25, 1999 The Clarion-Ledger 3B Rayborn loses Senate seat; most incumbents fare well rat May Whittington of Schlater and independent Maria Cowie of Greenwood in the general election. In House District 36, incumbent David Gibbs beat Paula Massey of West Point in the Democratic runoff 63 percent to 37 percent. In House District 40, Gary Chism took 57 percent of the vote to defeat L.T. Cole of Columbus, who got 43 percent. Chism faces Democrat Dale Enlow on Nov.

2. In House District 41, Esther Harrison of Columbus defeated percent to 43 percent win. In the GOP Senate District 46 runoff, Dave Koger of Diamondhead collected 66 percent of the vote to defeat James K. "Ken" Overstreet of Diamondhead, who received 34 percent. Koger will face incumbent Scottie Cuevas, D-Pass Christian, in the general election.

In House District 34, Danny White of Greenwood defeated Perry Smith, also of Greenwood, 57 percent to 43 percent, in the Republican runoff. White will face Democ Jim Terry, also of Columbus, 60 percent to 40 percent. In House District 77 in Simpson County, Edwin Berry of Magee squeaked past Wanda Bridges of Harrisville with 51 percent of the vote to 49 percent. Berry faces GOP incumbent Clint Rotenberry of Mendenhall in the general election. In House District 101, Joey Fill-ingane bested Kelly Sanner of Hat-tiesburg, 64 percent to 36 percent.

Fillingane will face independent Nick Crutcher Nov. 2. Incumbent Jamie Franks, D-Mooreville, also came from behind to win re-election to House District 19 by defeating Donnie Epps of Golden. Franks has no opposition Nov. 2.

In District 22, Democrat incumbent Billy Bowles of Houston held off challenger Bill Whitt of Okolona to win the seat. In House District 100, 0.K Ken-ney Moore of Columbia was beating Ken Morgan of Morgantown in the Democratic runoff with the winner winning the seat. ffl(fWf IF? mmmnrwmm! By Joseph Ammerman Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer A 20-year veteran senator and a one-term representative lost reelection bids Tuesday, but most incumbents facing challengers managed to stay in office. Newcomer Cindy Hyde-Smith beat Sen. W.L.

Rayborn, who came to the Legislature in 1980, for the District 39 seat, in a 53 percent to 47 percent win. "I can now join the Former Senator Party," Rayborn, a Democrat, said Tuesday night. "When folks get ready to turn you out, that's what they do. But I'm tickled to death they elected me to serve." Hyde-Smith faces Republican Helen Price of Summit and independent Frank Greer of Bogue Chit-to in the general election Nov. 2.

All told Tuesday, there were 13 House and three Senate runoffs. In one of the most bitter fights of the night, political novice Chuck Espy made the best of a famous name in defeating one-term House member Leonard Henderson, D-Clarksdale, for the District 26 seat. Espy, 24, is the son of former Clarksdale Mayor Henry Espy and nephew of former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy. Henderson, 54, won the seat in 1995 by defeating Rep.

Aaron Henry, D-Clarksdale, a veteran civil rights leader who served 16 years in the House. Henry, 74, died of congestive heart failure in 1997. Unofficial totals showed Espy with 53 percent of the vote to 47 per-cent for Henderson. With no Republican in the race, Espy is the winner. Henderson said he was fighting the Espy-Henry machine.

"They didn't run on anything I've done wrong, they just wanted to beat me," he said Tuesday night. "Aaron Henry, he still had loyal followers, and they would probably vote against me because I beat him. And the Espy family has some friends, and with the two of them getting together, I lost." Another incumbent, Democrat Jack Gadd of Hickory Flat, faced a serious fight against newcomer Samantha Bean late Tuesday night for House District 5 but managed a late charge to pull out a 57 2 incumbent sheriffs take home wins in runoff races By Thy rie Bland Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer At least two incumbent sheriffs posted victories Tuesday night in fights to keep their offices. In Copiah County with all 20 precincts reporting, incumbent Frank Ainsworth received 3,711 votes, or 51 percent, compared to Tommy Jackson's 3,656, or 49 percent. Ainsworth was first elected sher iff in Copiah County in 1994.

Sharkey County Sheriff Jacob Cartlidge, who was first elected in 1995 despite being a convicted felon, also won another four year-term. With 9 of 10 precincts reporting, Cartlidge had 1,367 votes, or 66 percent, compared to opponent William H. "Bill" Cooper's 702 votes or 34 percent. Cartlidge was sentenced to four years in federal prison in 1986 after being convicted of getting a payoff to protect drug dealers. At the trial, Cartlidge said he was conducting his own investigation when he accepted the money.

State law allows federal felons convicted prior to November 1992 to seek public office. Cartlidge will face independent candidate Roy Sias in the November general election. In Tunica County, Lt. Jerry Ellington beat his co-worker Lt. Willie Dunn in a runoff that deter mined who would advance to the general election to try to replace their former boss, John Pickett III, who pleaded guilty in March to extorting bribes from a bail bondsman.

Pickett resigned in March. With all 10 precincts reporting, Ellingtongot 1,256 votes, or 66 percent, to Dunn's 660 votes, or 34 percent "We shook hands and came out fighting," Ellington said. "We shook hands afterward." In a rematch of a close race four years ago, with 20 of 73 precincts reporting, Monroe County Sheriff Ruble Maxey had 1,038 votes, or 53 percent, and challenger Brent Coleman gained 886 votes, or 46 percent. In Montgomery County with 14 of 14 precincts reporting, Kenneth Campbell got 2,576 votes, or 61 percent, compared to John Paul Davis' 1,649 votes, or 39 percent. Campbell will face independent candidate Ellis Wayne Bevis in November.

The winner will replace former Sheriff Robert Tompkins. In House District 107, Littleton Eubanks of Lucedale beat Nolan "Dink" Walker of Perkinston, 53 percent to 47 percent. Eubanks will face incumbent Percy Maples, R-Lucedale on Nov. 2. In other races, state Democratic Party chairwoman Gloria Williamson of Philadelphia beat Shelton "Buck" Bounds, also of Philadelphia, in the Senate District 18 race.

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