Natchez &8212; It has taken a while, but the race to fill the vacant seat in House District 96 is run.

Tuesday&8217;s returns gave Angela Cockerham a decisive victory over Holmes Sturgeon in the runoff election to fill the seat vacated by David Green&8217;s retirement.

Cockerham won by a count of 3,419-1,565.

&8220;I am very pleased with the turnout and want to thank the voters, they really got out there and supported me and I want to go to Jackson and give them my best. &8221;

Adams County went for Cockerham 181-47.

The 228 voters &8212; out of the county&8217;s 1,658 eligible &8212; was an improvement from the general election&8217;s 205 total.

Cockerham, a Magnolia resident, won Pike County 154-19 and Amite by 1,833-552.

Sturgeon&8217;s home county of Wilkinson also went to Cockerham 1,241-947.

Cockerham said she was pleased with the civility of the campaign.

&8220;Everyone ran a clean race &8230;

I think very highly of Holmes and I wish him all the best. We&8217;ve always had a cordial relationship and I&8217;m sure it will stay that way,&8221; she said.

The election was originally scheduled for Aug. 30 but was postponed due to Hurricane Katrina.

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