NATCHEZ &045; Incumbent Charlie Vess won what he and closest opponent David Gaud called a &uot;good race&uot; Tuesday night in the Democratic primary for southern district justice court judge.

Vess sealed the deal with nearly 59 percent of the vote. Gaud held his own through most of the race, finishing with 33.33 percent of the vote Tuesday night. Sammy Corley finished with 7.25 percent.

Vess won the position outright Tuesday night with no Republican challenger to face in the general election.

&uot;Feels like the community again has shown their confidence in what we’ve done in the justice court,&uot; Vess said of the win.

Celebrating with friends, workers and wife Corky at La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant, Vess said he was thankful to Gaud for running a clean race and looked forward to working with him and other business owners through the next four years.

&uot;Look forward to working with him and the rest of the business community over the next four year to bring Natchez out of these times,&uot; Vess said.

Times, Vess said, will be trying ones but wants the residents of Adams County to rely on &uot;our courts’ stability to get our community through these tough times and businesses at the same time.&uot;

If he had any regrets in the race for Southern District justice court judge, David Gaud didn’t show it following Tuesday night’s returns.

&uot;I feel good about what we accomplished,&uot; said Gaud, who received 33 percent of the vote.

&uot;Charlie Vess and I both ran a good race. We campaigned hard. I’ve got a lot of good people working for me &045; there are not many doors we didn’t knock on during this race.&uot;

In the Northern District justice court judge’s race, incumbent Mary Lee Toles easily won with 83 percent of the vote.

&uot;I’m excited,&uot; she said Tuesday night, thanking her supporters. &uot;This is my last term, and like the Bible, I hope I’m saving the best for last.&uot;