Lincoln County residents have the option Tuesday to place twovotes in the Circuit Court Judge District 14 race featuringincumbents Keith Starrett and D.M. “Mike” Smith against challengersCharles E. Miller and Jack G. Price.

The court district also includes Pike and Walthall counties.

Senior judge Starrett has received a lot of statewide attentionfor his Drug Court which handles first time, non-violent drugoffenders.

“I literally pioneered it here in Mississippi,” Starrett said.”Our court is recognized around the state as a well-run court.People come from all over the state and model their courts onours.”

The court attempts to rehabilitate them through a variety ofmeans outside of the prison system, thereby saving taxpayers’money. The system has proven to be a great success and has garneredregional as well as statewide attention.

Chief Justice Edwin Pittman has made known his intention oftaking the Drug Court statewide.

Starrett, a resident of McComb, has served for more than 10years as a circuit court judge. He was in private practice for morethan 17 years before taking the bench. He has also served as anassistant district attorney. He has been a deacon and Sunday Schoolteacher at his church for more than 20 years.

Smith, a resident of Summit, has served two terms as circuitcourt judge and is known for his tough sentences on drug offendersand people making repeat appearances before the bench.

He is a graduate of the Mississippi College School of Law andNational Judicial College. He spent 24 years in private practicebefore being elected to the bench and is a U.S. Navy veteran. He isa member of the Masons, Shriners, American Legion, Farm Bureau anda life member of the National Rifle Association. He also serves onthe Board of Directors of the North Pike Educational Foundation andis a member of First Baptist Church of Summit.

Miller, a resident of McComb, is a graduate of Jackson StateUniversity and Howard University School of Law. He is a partner inthe McComb law firm of Miller & Miller. He has been a PikeCounty public defender and assistant district attorney. He is aU.S. Army veteran.

Miller is a member of the NAACP, Masons and Mississippi TrialLawyers Association. He is a past board member of the Boys andGirls Club and the Habitat of Humanity of McComb. He is a member ofBethel A.M.E. Church.

Price, also a Pike County attorney, said he is bringing hisconcern for the country and children to the courtroom.

“I am concerned about our country and the future of ourchildren,” he said. “To the courtroom I will bring family values,independence, impartiality and a strong sense of fair play.”

He is a graduate of Mississippi College School of Law andpresently serves as a municipal judge in McComb. He is a formerpublic defender in McComb and a former prosecutor and publicdefender in Tylertown. He is a member of St. Alphonsus CatholicChurch.