Powell wins House seat; nine to vie for Senate post

BRANDON and HINDS COUNTY —Brent Powell has been elected to the Mississippi Legislature during a special House election.

The Clarion-Ledger reports the Brandon Republican garnered more than 51 percent of the vote. He avoids a Jan. 29 runoff election.

Powell faced Republicans Bradley Lum and Scot Allen, and independent Benny L. Hubbard. They were vying for the seat left by former Rep. Kevin McGee, who resigned over ethics violations in November.

House District 59 encompasses the Ross Barnett Reservoir area and parts of Brandon and Flowood.

In a separate item, nine candidates are running for a state Senate seat in part of Hinds County.

They’re competing to succeed Democrat Alice Harden, who died in December.

The special election is Feb. 5, with a runoff Feb. 26.

The candidates are Cindy Ayers-Elliot, Tamarra Grace Butler, Marshand Crisler, Sollie B. Norwood, Antonio Porter, James “Jimmy” Stewart, Kathy L. Sykes, Tommy L. Wallace II and Cassandra Welchlin.

Candidates in special elections run without party labels.

Harden was a former educator. In 1987, she became the first black woman elected to the Mississippi Senate. She served until her death at age 64.