Incumbent mayors win nominations in Southaven and Hernando

It was a good day for incumbents in DeSoto County mayoral races Tuesday, with the sitting mayors in Hernando and Southaven winning their party nominations in primary elections, according to complete but unofficial returns, and Olive Branch's mayor securing a slot in a runoff.

Hernando Mayor Chip Johnson breezed to the Republican nomination over two less experienced opponents, while Southaven Mayor Greg Davis also easily won in his successful bid for the GOP nomination. Olive Branch Mayor Sam Rikard garnered the most votes but not enough to pull away from a runoff with county Supervisor Jessie Medlin.

Johnson and Davis will move on to meet Democratic and/or Independent challengers in the June 2 general election. Rikard will face Medlin in a May 19 Republican runoff with the winner there moving on to the general election.

In the county's other two incorporated municipalities, Horn Lake Mayor Nat Baker faced no Republican opposition Tuesday but will have a Democratic opponent in the general election.

In Walls, all elections are nonpartisan so there were no primary elections Tuesday. In the general election, Mayor Gene Alday and the five alderman candidates will face no competition unless there is a write-in candidate to arise.

Hernando

Johnson easily outdistanced Tony Scott and Randy Harris to record 65.6 percent of the vote and avoid a run-off election on May 19.

"Hopefully it says people are happy with the job we are doing," Johnson said. "And that's what matters to me, to do a good job for the people I work for."

Johnson, if he wins the general election, would be serving his second term as mayor of the county seat. He also served one term as city alderman prior to being elected mayor.

Johnson said he didn't have time to run as extensive a campaign as he did in 2005, and he was pleasantly surprised by his 65 percent vote total.

"When you make as many decisions as I do for the city people don't always agree with them," Johnson said. "So to get through four years and get that high of support, I'm surprised."

Johnson will face Independent Danny E. Phillips in the general election.

Olive Branch

Rikard got 46.7 percent of the vote, but not more than 50 percent as required to sweep the Republican primary.

Medlin, a longtime DeSoto County supervisor and Rikard's most stringent competition in eight years, received 38.5 percent of the vote.

Rikard also faced Realtor Vicky Reel, mounting her first political race. Reel focused her efforts on Rikard rather than on Medlin and talked of the millions of dollars in debt the city has incurred during his reign, but she trailed both the more experienced politicians in vote totals.

The runoff winner will face political newcomers Randy Smith, an Independent, and Dale "A. J." Bradshaw, a Democrat, in the general election.

Rikard ran on his record of "good government," but some voters were sour that under his watch, sewer rates rose significantly to cover the costs of a new countywide treatment plant.

"It doesn't surprise me this one ends in a runoff," Rikard said. "We're two well-known individuals in the political field. We both have name recognition. We just have to make sure we identify voters and get them out to vote (in the runoff). We have to deliver our message one more time to the people."

In his 18th year as supervisor of District 1, Medlin ran on his record of representing an area that includes Olive Branch. He went into the race facing questions about that record, however.

Last fall, the state Auditor's Office started investigating allegations that Medlin had violated procedures mandated by the county unit system. That investigation is ongoing. Medlin said he's done nothing wrong.

Contacted late Tuesday, Medlin said, "I have no comment for you."

Southaven

Davis moved a step closer to history with his win Tuesday night.

By defeating Southaven businessman Mitch Wright, 55, in the Republican primary, Davis, 42, could become the longest-serving mayor in the city's history with a record fourth-consecutive four-year term.

He now faces Independent Eddie Sutliffe and Democrat William S. Forrester in the general election.

But Tuesday's primary was Davis' strongest challenge since he was elected mayor of the county's largest city in 1997.

Wright, owner of Mitch Wright Plumbing, Heating and Air, campaigned on a need for change in city leadership with his "Wright For Mayor" and "It's Time" slogans.

He promised voters that if elected, he would be a hands-on mayor by having an "open door" policy.

"I feel good and we worked hard, but the people have spoken," Wright said at Southaven City Hall on Tuesday night.

Voters decisively decided it was right to stick with Davis, who would have given up the mayor's seat had he won a bid for the state's First District seat in Congress last November against U.S. Rep. Travis Childers, D-Miss.

Running on his experience and accomplishments as mayor during the past 12 years, Davis touted public safety as his top priority in the state's fifth-largest city.

He pointed to the city's growth in terms of residents and businesses, such as the Southaven Towne Center mall, in helping the city remain stable in tough economic times.

"I am humbled by the voters of Southaven," he said from his campaign headquarters on Getwell Road. "They decided they liked the direction the city has moved in the last 12 years, and I am honored tonight to still be able to serve them."