While neither representatives or the district attorney face any challengers at this time, the senate race currently has three that have qualified.

The deadline to qualify is Feb. 27.

State Senator, District 39 

Mike Campbell (R) said he is running for State Senator for District 39 because he feels there is “far too much manipulation” involved with government. He said he is skeptical of a lot of issues coming down from the federal government – such as Common Core – that open doors for those issues to be controlled by the federal government. Therefore he’s dedicated to keeping things simple and straightforward.

“I’m a republican, but first and foremost, I am an American,” Campbell said. “I believe in doing the right thing for the right reason and accepting the consequences.”

Campbell said that he’d bring straightforward honesty to the position and would do what the people elected him to do.

Campbell is currently a deputy sheriff and has been working with law enforcement for eight years. Before that he worked as a Respiratory Therapist for 20 years. He’s owned multiple business including Reliable Oxygen and Rest Well Sleep Diagnostics which he sold to Southwest Regional Medical Center, a police supply company called Reliable Arms and a day care center.

Sally Doty (R) currently holds the position as state senator for district 39 and has held the position for four years. If elected again she will be serving her third term. She said she feels qualified for the position based on her experience dealing with the large range of issues in the legislature such as education, Medicaid, retirement and law enforcement.

“It’s important to have a deeper understanding of these issues to really be able to be effective for your constituents,” Doty said.

She said in the first four years they’ve worked to get the state’s fiscal house in order and have seen a decrease in the state’s indebtedness.

“By focusing on the state’s budget it allows us to be stronger in the future and allow us to put our money in education and infrastructure,” Doty said.

Michael Smith (D) has been involved with the state legislature for the past 15 years as a lobbyist and said that is what qualifies him for State Senator for District 39. He said that he’s helped senators and representatives pass numerous policies that affect the state in a positive way.

“I want to bring better job opportunities to the area so people can provide good wage for their families,” Smith said.

Smith also focuses on education and believes that the state should properly fund education.

“Here in Lincoln County, a lot of teachers go way beyond their needs to buy supplies for their classrooms,” Smith said. He said that if better funded, teachers wouldn’t have to pay for things for their classrooms from their own pockets.

He also wants to better provide for educators, law enforcement and rehabilitory programs like drug courts saying that those kinds of programs are necessary.

State House of Representatives, District 53 

Bobby Moak (D) still enjoys being in the House and believes that he still can make a difference. He said he hopes that his past work and his dedication of his entire adult life to public service proves that.

He said there are big issues that are make or break for the state right now. Moak said first is the issue of education not being fully funded.

“I thing that’s a huge issue to push for full funding at the local level,” Moak said. “We’d take a tax burden off the people.”

Secondly, Moak mentioned healthcare as an important issue for the state.

“We’ve got some sort of view that we shouldn’t go to Washington to get our taxes back,” Moak said.

He said this is hurting the local economy and healthcare. Moak said that Lincoln County has 67 healthcare venues and if the state had taken the 17 million from Washington it could have last year, it would have funded 264 jobs alone for that year. He said the same goes for the surrounding counties.

“We’ve got to lay political issues aside and do what’s better for our county,” Moak said. “We are wondering why our kids go somewhere else to get jobs. When we make bad political decisions we don’t make an environment so our kids can come back and have good jobs.”

Moak said he currently is the minority leader in the state’s House and as minority leader he has a very good run at the speakers chair.

“I’d love for our part of the state to have that opportunity,” Moak said.

State House of Representative, District 92 

Becky Currie (R) currently holds the position and is currently running opposed toward her third term as State House Representative for District 92. Currie said she’s enjoyed serving her constituents and said a lot has changed and a lot of good things are being accomplished in the House.

Currie is a registered nurse by trade, which makes healthcare a big issue for her.

“I want to make sure people in Mississippi get good quality healthcare,” Currie said. “I want to make sure there’s a good balance between providing for doctors and nurses as well as patients.”

Another concern of hers is making sure the state’s education system is where I needs to be.

“My concern is on kids and teachers in the classroom,” Currie said. “We need money to go to the classroom, to the kids, and to the teachers.”

She said that she feels like the people will decide whether or not she’s done a good job and deserves to serve four more years.

District Attorney, District 14  

Dee Bates (D) currently holds the position and is currently running unopposed. Bates is currently serving his third term in the position.

“It’s been an extraordinary opportunity to serve as district attorney for judicial district 14,” Bates said. He said he’s enjoyed the time he’s spent in the office.

He said that his experience qualifies him to keep the position for another four years. Bates said his knowledge of the community and the office staff that he’s built over the years are all assets he and his office bring to the 14th Judicial District.

Bates said that if elected again he will continue to enforce the laws of the state of Mississippi and looks forward to dealing better with habitual criminals.