Avoiding a repeat of history, Richard “Ricky” Smith, who lost his bid to oust incumbent District Attorney Gil Martin in 2003, won the post by a commanding margin Tuesday, denying Martin a fifth term as the chief prosecutor of felony crime in Warren, Sharkey and Issaquena counties.

With all precincts in the three counties reporting, Smith, 48, unofficially received 9,696 votes, 4,614 more than Martin, 63.

“This is proof the community is tired of the way some things have been done and that the people are ready for some changes,” said Smith, who ran as the Democratic candidate.

Smith carried all three counties and outpolled Martin in all 22 of Warren County’s precincts en route to being one of only two challengers to oust an area incumbent. The other incumbent to fall was District 4 Supervisor Carl Flanders, whose vote total fell short of that for Bill Lauderdale Jr, whom he had ousted four years earlier.

“I must say the numbers are coming in better than I had predicted,” Smith said Tuesday night.

Smith served as Northern District Justice Court judge starting in 1999, but resigned from that post in 2003 to run for district attorney. He attributed some of his success in this year’s race to his failed attempt four years ago, describing that loss as a “great learning experience.”

Martin, who was first elected as district attorney in 1991, expressed disappointment, but maintained a sense of pride in what has been accomplished during his tenure.

“It just seems that the community is ready for a change,” said Martin, who ran as an independent. “But I’m still very proud of these 16 years and what this office has done in that time.”

During Martin’s four terms, the District Attorney’s Office has prosecuted about 7,500 cases and his staff has expanded to include victims’ assistance and bad-check units.

Smith’s campaign was centered on charges that Martin was not aggressive enough, specifically toward violent crimes and repeat offenders.

“It seems that these offenders are being put back on streets rather quickly, and this community deserves better,” said Smith, who has practiced law in Vicksburg for 14 years.

He noted that another goal is to work better with law enforcement officers in preparing criminal cases for presentation to grand juries than his predecessor. A simmering conflict between Martin and the Vicksburg Police Department has centered on whether police detectives were completing case files sufficient to win indictments and convictions.

Smith also said he has made no decisions regarding future personnel in the District Attorney’s Office, which currently includes assistant district attorneys Mike Bonner and John Bullard.

Three constable posts were also decided Tuesday.

The county’s Northern District constable, Glenn McKay, 45, and Southern District constable, John Henry Heggins, 45, each won seventh terms. Both running as Democrats, Heggins won his election unopposed while McKay, owner of Dixie Paint Shop, received 3,816 votes to once again defeat Eddie Hoover, 42, owner of Hoover’s 24-Hour Tire and Auto Service, who had 1,015 votes. This morning, Hoover offered his congratulations to McKay. “He’s is a good friend and a good person,” Hoover said. McKay beat Hoover by 3,147 votes in the 2003 election.

“I can’t thank my supporters enough for their continued support,” McKay said. “This is a job I have enjoyed for many years and I look forward to four more.”

For the open Central District constable’s post, veteran law enforcement officer Randy Naylor, 53, received 2,234 votes to top W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home owner James E. Jefferson, 48, who had 1,099 votes. Naylor ran as a Democrat while Jefferson, who lost the 2003 election by 2,300 votes to Rudolph Walker, ran as an independent.

Naylor began his law-enforcement career in 1988 as a patrolman with the Vicksburg Police Department and currently serves as a certified resource officer at Vicksburg Junior High School.

“I have always loved law enforcement,” Naylor said. “And I certainly look forward to serving in a new role the next four years.”

Constables, who are sworn law enforcement officers, focus on such duties as serving summonses, complaints, subpoenas, and court orders and assisting local courts.