Thompson wins re-election as Justice Court judge

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Nov. 5, 2003
Incumbent Justice Court Judge Gerald Wayne Thompson trailed throughout early election returns Tuesday before winning the District 4 post over two opponents.
Thompson, an independent, won his fifth straight term on the bench.
With all precincts reporting, Thompson had 3,258 votes, or 61 percent. Independent Beverly Knox, had 1,105 votes, or 21 percent, while Democrat Hubert Childs had 942 votes, or 18 percent.
Knox led by a small margin in early returns, and for a while appeared to be poised for an upset win.
When the votes were all counted, though, Thompson easily won a majority and nearly tripled the vote total of his closest opponent Knox.
District 1 Justice Court
Incumbent Republican Jim Edwards handily defeated independent challenger Jim Buckley in one of the area's biggest landslide decisions.
With all precincts reporting, Edwards had 2,316 votes, or 85 percent. Buckley received just 421 votes, or 15 percent.
Edwards has been District 1 Justice Court judge since 1985.
County Attorney
Republican Justin Cobb ran away from a three-man field to win the open spot for Lauderdale County attorney.
With all precincts reporting, Cobb had 13,111 votes, or 60 percent. Democrat Gary B. Jones had 5,540 votes, or 25 percent. Independent Charlie Smith came in third with 3,189 votes, or 15 percent.
Cobb will take office in January. He will replace longtime county attorney Robert Compton, who did not seek re-election.
Tax Collector
Stanley Shannon won a third term as Lauderdale County tax collector, easily defeating Democratic hopeful Leland Harper.
With all precincts reporting, Shannon received 15,473 votes, or 71 percent. Harper had 6,444 votes, or 29 percent.
District 4 Constable
H.C. "Buck" Roberts won a fourth consecutive term as District 4 constable with a big win over a Democratic challenger.
Roberts, a Republican, had 3,912 votes, or 73 percent. His challenger, Roger Scarbrough, had 1,453 votes, or 27 percent.