Chism seeks MS Senate seat in Republican run-off

New Albany MS – Businesswoman Kathy Chism is one of the two candidates in the August 27 run-off for the Republican nomination for the District 3 seat in the Mississippi senate.

Chism got the top district-wide vote of the four candidates in the first GOP primary on August 6th. According to unofficial results, she received 2,827 votes in the first primary, leading the four-candidate field. However, she fell short of the absolute majority required for nomination. She faces businessman Kevin Walls, who came in second with 2,700 votes in the district.

Two other candidates were eliminated on August 6. Former New Albany Alderman Jeff Olson received 2,369 votes in the district, of which 1,923 were from his home county, Union. The second eliminated candidate was  Jeffrey Mitchell, a Pontotoc County resident. He received 547 votes district-wide.

District three consists of all of Benton and Union counties and approximately the northern half of Pontotoc County, including the city of Pontotoc. Chism lives in Union County and Walls in Pontotoc County. The total of 2,916 votes Olson and Mitchell received August 6 are theoretically “in play” in the August 27 run-off primary.

The winner of the August 27 Republican run-off will face Democrat Tim Tucker in the November 5 general election. Tucker ran without opposition in the Democratic primary.

Kathy Chism operates multiple businesses in Union County with her husband, Bob. They have been in the estate auction business for 29 years and in the swimming pool business for 25 years. She is also a realtor associated with Coldwell-Banker.

Chism describes herself as a conservative Republican and says she is “pro-life, pro-law enforcement, pro-education and pro-Second Amendment.”

She says she favors improvements to Mississippi roads and bridges and would favor an increased gasoline tax for that purpose. However, she also favors the elimination of the state income tax if fuel taxes are increased.

Additionally, she favors what she calls a “blanket primary.” Voters would have a single primary ballot with both Democrat and Republican candidates. This would make it possible to vote for a candidate of either party for all offices on the primary ballot.

This is the first time Chism has sought public office. Walls ran previously for chancery clerk in Pontotoc County.

Chism is the stepsister of Danny Jordan, who served for 30 years as supervisor for Union County District 3. Serving as a Democrat, Jordan was president of the county board for the last eight years of his service. He did not seek re-election in 2015. Jordan has been very active in his step-sister’s campaign for the District 3 seat in the state senate.

Chism announces run for MS Senate: http://newalbanyunionco.com/kathy-chism-seeks-ms-senate-district-3-seat/