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Do you know what else is on your ballot?

Published 12:03am Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Months of national hype might have you confused about today’s election. One might think the only candidates on today’s ballot would be Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

But in Mississippi, at least, four other presidential candidates will be hoping for your vote. Candidates from the Constitution, Libertarian, Green and Reform parties are all on the ballot. In Louisiana more than twice that many third-party candidates will be on the ballot.

Presidential candidates are not the only ones vying for votes today, though.

All four of Mississippi’s U.S. House representatives are on the ballot. Locally that pits incumbent Republican Rep. Gregg Harper fending off Reform Party challenger John “Luke” Pannell.

One of Mississippi’s U.S. Senate seats will also be on the ballot. Incumbent Republican Sen. Roger Wicker will face three challengers — including a Democrat who shares his name with former Vice President Al Gore.

Adams, Franklin and Wilkinson county voters will also select a Supreme Court Justice. Incumbent Mike Randolph faces challenger Talmadge Braddock.

Local Louisiana voters will select a U.S. Representative and face nine constitutional amendment options.

These lesser-hyped ballot options may be of greater long-term importance to local voters than who ultimately wins the White House.

America needs strong leadership, but locals need representatives in government that can be trusted and easily held accountable by local residents.

Please take the time to become educated about these “other” races before just casting a vote for a name that may seem familiar.

 

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  • Anonymous

    Sure would have been helpful to have more information about who the candidates are locally.

  • Anonymous

    GULFPORT — In Tuesday’s election, Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Mike Randolph faces challenger Talmadge Braddock and the two candidates tout their courtroom experience.

    Mississippi Supreme Court elections are nonpartisan. Braddock’s campaign finance report filed Oct. 30 show he’s received about $8,000 in contributions this year, while Randolph’s shows about $429,000 received this year.

    Randolph, 65, of Hattiesburg, was appointed to the Supreme Court by then Gov. Haley Barbour in April 2004, to serve the unexpired term of former Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman. He was elected to an eight-year term, which began in January 2005. The justice said his legal philosophy is similar to Exodus 18:21, which says, “But select capable men from all the people — men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain — and

    appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”

    “I love the law and the study of it,” Randolph said. “To me, it’s sort of like a calling.”

    Randolph is married to the former Kathy Webb, who was from Ocean Springs, and the couple has three children and four grandchildren. He’s also a Vietnam veteran who served with the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division. He earned a degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1974, and was the law school’s student body president. In 1975, he joined the Coast firm then called Bryan, Nelson, Allen and Schroeder and he opened the firm’s Hattiesburg office in 1976. He practiced law until Barbour appointed him to the state high court.

    Braddock, 42, of Hattiesburg, who identifies himself as a trial lawyer who stands up for the common man, says he’s won cases against major corporations. He’s also handled mass tort litigation, personal injury, criminal defense and other claims. He’s said he’s one of the younger members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which is reserved for lawyers who have won million and multi-million dollar cases.

    Braddock, who has been practicing law for 17 years, believes he would bring some diversity to the Supreme Court, which he believes is made of justices who were mostly corporate defense lawyers before they made it to the bench.

    “I’ve been a personal injury trial lawyer,” Braddock said. “I have represented the people — normal every day, working people. I’m not a corporate defense lawyer. There’s a big difference … I look after the people, as opposed to corporate interests — big insurance, big tobacco, big pharma.”

    Braddock, a native of Vicksburg, earned his law degree from the University of Mississippi in 1995. He is divorced and has two children. He’s on the Board of Governors of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association.

    Braddock says he’s been traveling the district talking to voters about his legal career, including campaigning at University of Southern Mississippi football games, the Jackson County Fair and other events in the 27 county Supreme Court District 2.

    Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/04/4283304/randolph-braddock-square-off-in.html#storylink=cpy

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