NATCHEZ — When the doors closed at polling precincts around Adams County, the counting of ballots began.

James Lee was re-elected Coroner, Reynolds Atkins was elected Tax Assessor, while the race for the Northern District Constable ended in a runoff between Willie B. Jones and Deselle Mody-Davis.

The Southern District Constable race also ended in a runoff between Matthew Freeman and Adam Kirk.

Adams County Coroner

Incumbent Coroner Lee won against his challenger Jeremy Fakes. In the unofficial results, Lee garnered 69.3 percent of the vote to Fakes’s 30.7 percent.

“I’m just very humble tonight,” Lee said.

As soon as the polls closed, Lee said he went to his office.

“I’m still on the job tonight and I’ll be on the job 24/7 for the next four years,” Lee said.

Fakes said he enjoyed meeting new people during the race and that his campaign had stayed positive despite attempts to turn the race negative.

Fakes also said he plans to run again in four years.

“I will be back again,” Fakes said.

 

Tax Assessor

Incumbent Atkins was elected to his fifth term as Tax Assessor, garnering 55.1 percent of the vote to Larry L. Hughes’s 44.9 percent.

Atkins spent election night at Andrew’s Tavern on Main Street, which is owned by his son.

“I’m very appreciative of everyone who helped me,” Atkins said.

Atkins also wanted to thank Hughes, who he said ran a clean race.

“He was a gentleman through the whole thing,” Atkins said.

Tomorrow, Atkins said he plans to go out and pick up all of his campaign signs, and then get back to work the next day.

Hughes spent the night at his church, Union Baptist Church.

“I want to thank the Natchez community for even thinking of me,” Hughes said.

He also thanked his supporters and everyone who gave him information during the race. Although Hughes has no definite plans, he hopes to serve his community in the future.

 

Northern District Constable

The race for the Northern District Constable ended in a runoff, to be decided Aug. 25, between Jones and Mody-Davis.

Jones garnered 40.6 percent of the vote, Mody-Davis had 30.4 percent and Stan Owens garnered 29.1 percent of the vote.

Jones was at the Holiday Inn Express on Canal Street when the news came in.

“I appreciate everyone coming out and voting for me,” Jones said. “It was a clean race and I look forward to going back and winning. I really do.”

Jones said he also wanted to thank his supporters.

Mody-Davis was at his sister’s house on Davis Court at a small gathering.

“I thank God first of all,” Mody-Davis said.

He said he was also thankful for his supporters, as well as his family and friends.

Like Jones, he said he liked how it had been a clean race.

“Nobody was mean towards anybody,” Mody-Davis said.

Now, he said he was turning his attention to the runoff.

“I’ll be ready,” Mody-Davis said.

Southern District Constable

Freeman, who garnered 41.9 percent of the vote, will face Kirk, who had 34.5 percent, in the Aug. 25 runoff.

Bo Stevens garnered 11.8 percent of the vote and Nikita Stone had 11.7 percent.

Freeman said he was “overwhelmed” by the amount of support he received. He said he was going to face some tough competition in the runoff.

“I really have to get out there and bust my butt so I win this runoff,” Freeman said.

Kirk said he’d thought more voters would turn out at the polls and hoped more would turn out for the runoff.

“I’m going to get back on the campaign trail, start knocking on doors,” Kirk said.

However, Kirk also said he was looking forward to the runoff.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for all of my opponents and I look forward to meeting Matthew in the runoff,” Kirk said.