[5/16/03]Two candidates for Warren County offices said Thursday they no longer want to be listed on this fall’s ballots.

Jerry Rushing, 43, a Republican candidate for District 1 supervisor, said Thursday he will withdraw from this year’s race but will run in a future election. And, in what was to be an uncontested election for county surveyor, Joseph Strickland also withdrew.

Rushing, a co-owner and announcer for Vicksburg radio station WQBC, had filed as a candidate for elective office for the first time.

“I was encouraged to run,” Rushing said of his Feb. 27 filing, but added that his radio business is “young and growing” and requiring so much time he could not serve effectively as a county supervisor. “I plan to run again, but right now is not the best time for me,” he said.

Rushing was to face two opponents, incumbent David McDonald, 53, and William Muirhead, 49, in the Republican primary on Aug. 5. Also in the race are independent candidates Billy Boone, 53, Kenneth Downs, 38, and Michael Terry, 56.

Rushing filed ahead of this year’s March 1 filing deadline for prospective candidates for fall elections. A general election is set for Nov. 4.

To be made official, Rushing’s withdrawal requires a letter to the state Republican Party that he said he would submit today. With the two candidates’ exits, 66 candidates remain for Warren County and area legislative posts.

Rushing co-hosts WQBC’s Morning Show, which often includes interviews with local political figures. He also volunteers as host of “Speak Up,” a City of Vicksburg-produced show on its cable TV Channel 23.

A letter published in Sunday’s Vicksburg Post said Rushing was “hand-picked” as host of the city show by Mayor Laurence Leyens. “How dare the city board promote a campaign at the cost of taxpayers?” it asked.

Rushing said he and his wife made the decision for him to withdraw on Saturday, before the letter was published, and that he did not agree with the letter’s argument.

“It seemed like the person was pulling for someone else, another candidate,” Rushing said. He added that he was approached by the city because officials “felt like they needed someone who wasn’t tied to city government to host the show.” He said he volunteers all of the approximately six hours a week he spends on the show and its preparation, and that he has not and will not use the show to promote his candidacy.

He also said he offered the other Republicans radio time that make closer to equal the difference between his and their current on-air time, and that he expected the city would do the same on Channel 23 if it was requested. The other candidates responded that closer to the primary they may use some of the time Rushing offered them, he said.

The office of surveyor had been vacant since Strickland left it about 15 years ago, he has said. A professional land surveyor with Strickland Surveying and Mapping Inc., he was not available Thursday.

Campaign finance reports submitted last week showed $2,500 had been spent on the race for District 1 supervisor during the first four months of the year, including none by Rushing and $1,868 by the other two Republicans in the race. In reported cash on hand, Rushing’s two opponents reported a combined $5,782, including $5,462 by McDonald.

Election commissioners have not reported officially qualifying Downs as a candidate for District 1 supervisor, but chairman James McMullin has said an attorney general’s opinion indicates Downs should be allowed to run from that district.