NEWS NOTES: Another Legislator, Sheriff Challenged; Lawyer Sanctions Upheld

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — Incumbent legislators in the Golden Triangle aren’t getting a free ride in this year’s elections.

First-term District 36 incumbent Karl Gibbs is being challenged in the August Democratic primary by contractor Jimmy Davidson and Clay County Drug Court Director Edward Houston. It’s Davidson’s third try at the seat which covers parts of Clay, Lowndes and Monroe counties. Houston previously ran for Clay County sheriff.

Gibbs won a six-person primary and runoff in March and April 2013 to fill remainder of the term of his father, after his death earlier that year.

Meanwhile, long-time representative Esther Harrison of Columbus is being challenged by Columbus Ward 5 City Councilman Kabir Karriem and former Noxubee County circuit court clerk Carl Mickens plans to announce Thursday a challenge to veteran lawmaker Reecy Dickson.

SANCTIONS UPHELD AGAINST ATTORNEY

Montgomery

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — A federal appeals court has upheld the $8,336 penalty against a former Columbus lawyers.

A federal judge ordered the penalty against Monique Montgomery two years ago as part of the dismissal of a false-imprisonment lawsuit brought by her client, James Earl Moore.

Montgomery appealed the dismissal and the financial sanctions to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. That court dismissed the appeal today.

Montgomery moved from Columbus to Clay County to run an unsuccessful campaign for Circuit Court judge.

YALOBUSHA SHERIFF GETS FOES

YALOBUSHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — Another Northeast Mississippi sheriff is being challenged in this fall’s elections.

Yalobusha County sheriff Lance Humphreys faces Luther Folson Junior and William Wortham the third in the Democratic primary.

Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee, Pontotoc, Oktibbeha and Calhoun counties are mong others with contested sheriff’s races.

Party primaries are in August and the general election is November 3rd.