WOODVILLE &045;&045; Based on a ruling issued by a Hinds County judge in October, Richard Hollins will begin serving Jan. 1 as District 2 supervisor in Wilkinson County.

However, the Mississippi Supreme Court has agreed to hear incumbent Supervisor Kirk Smith’s appeal of that ruling, according to records filed in the Wilkinson County Circuit Clerk’s office.

The Wilkinson County Democratic Executive Committee had previously certified Smith as the winner of the August 26 Democratic primary election by an 11-vote margin.

Hollins contested the election on grounds that absentee and affidavit ballots were improperly rejected.

Hinds County Chancellor Denise Owens was appointed by the state Supreme Court to hear the dispute. After hearing testimony in the case, Owens declared Hollins the winner by a three-vote margin.

On Dec. 12, the state Supreme Court instructed Smith to file his appeal within 21 days after the Wilkinson County Circuit Clerk forwards the record of the case to the high court.

A spokesperson in Wilkinson County Circuit Clerk’s office said the record had not been forwarded to the state Supreme Court as of Tuesday morning.

The high court denied a separate request by Smith to bar Hollins from taking office until the appeal is heard.