Southerland challenging Chaney for Senate seat

Published 12:00 am Monday, March 3, 2003

[03/02/03] Marcie Southerland, who is serving an interim appointment as Warren County prosecutor and last week said she would not seek election to that post, has filed to challenge Sen. Mike Chaney in the November election.

Southerland, 49, filed as a Democrat for state Senate District 23, the state party reported Saturday, the last day for candidates in fall elections to file. Chaney, 59, a Republican, had previously filed for election to a second term from the district, which includes Warren County.

Party primaries are set for Aug. 5, with a general election to follow Nov. 4.

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In all, 70 candidates had filed for 26 county, state and district posts serving Warren County or the surrounding area by Saturday’s 5 p.m. deadline. That number topped by eight the total number of candidates running in 1999 elections, 62, when the same offices were up for election.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors appointed Southerland in December to serve the remaining year of a term to which Johnny Price had been elected. Price was elected county judge in November. The county prosecutor’s post is also up for election this year, but Southerland announced Monday she would not seek election to it.

Also on Saturday, a third candidate filed for prosecutor. Clyde Emil Ellis, whose age was not available, filed as an independent candidate, joining Robert Arledge, 45, and Richard Johnson, 49, both of whom are also independents.

In other filings Saturday:

Fred Sherard filed to run as an independent for circuit clerk. He joined in the race these six other candidates, with party affiliation if any: Shelly Ashley-Palmertree, 33, Democrat; Mike Caruthers, 47, independent; Bertha Conner, 55, independent; Gil Culkin, 49, Democrat; Jack Grogan, 51, Democrat; and Trey Miller, 36, Republican. The post is being vacated by Larry Ashley, who is retiring.

Tony Hart filed to run as an independent for District 2 supervisor. He joined in the race against incumbent Michael Mayfield Sr., 44, a Democrat.

Charles Stevens filed to run as a Republican for District 4 supervisor. He joined in the race three candidates, with party affiliation if any: Carl Flanders, 33, independent; Reginald King, 56, independent; and incumbent Bill Lauderdale, 55.

Frank Gardner filed to run as a Democrat for District 5 supervisor. He joined in the race two candidates, incumbent Richard George, 53, and Joe Wooley, 60, both independents.

Paige Gill Eaves filed to run as a Democrat for state House District 56, joining two Republicans in the race, incumbent Jep Barbour, 42, and Philip Gunn, age not available, of Clinton.

Johnny McDaniels filed to run as a Democrat and Charles Stogner as a Republican for state Senate District 36. They joined in the race E. Vincent Davis, 39, and incumbent Lynn Posey, 47.