Jackson Free Press

Only 8 percent of registered voters participated in yesterday's local Democratic runoff elections.

With such low participation, it undoubtedly helped community activist Kathy Sykes, who had wide support among progressive grassroots groups and fellow activists. It's also a majority black district. Sykes is African American; her opponent, attorney, Sam Begley is white. In unofficial county results, Sykes defeated Begley with 54 percent of votes to Begley's 46 percent. Begley wrote on Facebook last night saaying while he appeated to "come up short," he has a responsibility to his supporters to canvass the boxes to "confirm the correct result." The winner of that contest will face Republican Pete Perry in November.

Meanwhile, another community activist, David Archie had less success in his bid for Hinds County Board of Supervisors against incumbent Darrel McQuirter. Before the runoff, McQuirter seemed vulnerable considering that on Aug. 4, he won 44 percent of the votes against Archie and former Supervisor Al Hunter, both of whom have battled McQuirter in past elections. It seemed conceivable that Hunter's supporters would prefer Archie, but in the end McQuirter received 57 percent of votes.

The other Hinds County supervisors' runoff ended with Bobcat McGowan, a county employee, defeating Eric Stringfellow, a public-relations professional and former Clarion-Ledger columnist. McGowan seemed to have solid backing among some local black talk-radio talking heads, but didn't do media interviews, including with the JFP.

Finally, Hinds County race of interest, veteran legislator Rep. Mary Coleman defeated Robert Amos for central-district rep to the Mississippi Transportation Commission.

Here are the totals for Hinds County from the county's website:

 TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER (VOTE FOR) 1 (WITH 110 OF 113 PRECINCTS COUNTED 97.35%) Robert Amos. . . . . . . . . . 2,274 20.80 Mary H. Coleman . . . . . . . . 8,614 78.80 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 44 .40 HOUSE DISTRICT 70 (VOTE FOR) 1 (WITH 17 OF 18 PRECINCTS COUNTED 94.44%) Samuel Lee Begley. . . . . . . . 953 46.02 Kathy Sykes. . . . . . . . . . 1,114 53.79 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .19 SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 2 (VOTE FOR) 1 (WITH 29 OF 29 PRECINCTS COUNTED) David L. Archie . . . . . . . . 2,001 42.64 Darrel McQuirter . . . . . . . . 2,688 57.28 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .09 SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 5 (VOTE FOR) 1 (WITH 26 OF 27 PRECINCTS COUNTED 96.30%) Bobby "Bobcat" McGowan . . . . . . 1,221 53.93 Eric Stringfellow. . . . . . . . 1,035 45.72 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 8 .35 

9:38 PM With 100% in, McQuirter lost ground but appears to win with 687 vote lead.

With 94% in, Sykes leads Begley 54/46.

With 96% in, McGowan leads Stringfellow by 186 votes (54/46).

9:13 PM With 96.5% reporting, McQuirter leads Archie by just under 1700 votes.

At 83% in, Sykes leads Begley by 210 votes (55/44).

At 81.5% counted, McGowan leads Stringfellow by 294 votes (57/43).

8:59 PM With 67% reporting, Begley trails Sykes by 105 votes.

McQuirter leads Archie 57/43 with 83% reporting.

McGowan leads Stringfellow 58/41 with 70% counted.

8:53 PM McQuirter over Archie 65%/34% in Hind Sup 2 run-off (58% in).

McGowan leads Stringfellow by 96 votes (52% in).

8:50 PM With 44% reporting, Sam Begley leads Kathy Sykes by 48 votes in District 70.

8:40 PM: AP is reporting that Rep. Mary Coleman will win the Democratic Nomination for transportation commissioner in the central district.

Good news out of Oxford, Miss., just now. Legislative hopeful Cristen Hemmins and The Oxford Eagle are reporting on their Facebook pages that the Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to stop flying the Mississippi state flag until the Confederate canton is gone.

Per The Oxford Eage's Facebook Post:

"The Oxford Board of Aldermen have voted to remove the current Mississippi state flag from all city buildings and approved sending the state Legislature a resolution requesting the state flag be changed."

More than one person posting under the Eagle's post used the word "pansies" to refer to the aldermen. Robin Gittemeier Ware, who works with FNC Inc. Professional Services, commented underneath: "What we have here is a bunch of pansies afraid of "offending" someone. Everyone is offended by something but a flag never killed anyone."

Another commenter, Matt Sessums, took an irreverent approach in response to such posts: "Imagine how crazy some of these people will be when they name Obama as Chancellor."

Here are the election-night parties we know are happening. If you hear about of any others, please let us know. Polls close at 7 p.m.

Gov. Phil Bryant Tonight at 7:30 PM at the Mississippi Republican Party Headquarters (415 Yazoo St, Jackson)

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves will speak to supporters and members of the media at 9 p.m. Tuesday at Parlor Market, 115 W. Capitol St. in Jackson.

Vicki Slater, Democratic candidate for governor Hal & Mal's 200 Commerce St., Jackson

Sheriff Tyrone Lewis Lewis Campaign Headquarters 4255 Robinson Road

Victor Mason, candidate for Hinds County sheriff The campaign headquarters are located at 955 I-20 South Frontage Road, on top of the hill at the Gallatin Street Exit.

Stanley Alexander, candidate for Hinds County district attorney Martin's 214 South State Street Jackson, MS