The voters have spoken...

I'm not going to finish Mo Udall's famous quote after he got voted out of office.  The fact of the matter is, yesterday's election was handled about as well as can be expected.  I think the candidates generally behaved admirably under difficult circumstances.  Judge Thomas polled about 28,000 votes, and the write-in candidates collectively polled 20,000 votes.  The biggest wins for Judge Thomas came in Pearl River County and Lamar County, where he beat all the rest of us by a 2-1 margin.  The write-ins only carried Forrest County.

I want to thank every one who voted yesterday, especially those who voted for me and those who supported me.  I will be running for judge again.  The governor will now be appointing a chancellor for the district, and we will have a special election during next year's general election.  We may in fact be looking at what will be the most expensive judicial election in Mississippi history next year.  Deborah Gambrell is already planning her run.  Tom Bates is retiring from Justice Court and will not be running next year.  Gay Polk-Payton will be throwing her hat in the ring for Justice Court.  I'll keep working hard for my clients and working hard with my constituents and fellow candidates.  Hopefully, we can hash out some issues behind the scenes before qualifying in May, 2011.

I'll continue to post here for the next few weeks.  Thanks so much for your support and interest.

Final thoughts before the election

This has been a truly exciting few weeks.  I'm running for judge, working on a Fifth Circuit appeal, and working hard on keeping my wife happy.  I'd like to thank everyone who has made this effort possible and worthwhile, including my campaign manager Bill Adcox and his lovely mother, and his charming wife Melanie.  Also, thanks to Supertalk, Farley, Savanna, Eddy Hubbard, Carsten Cagle, Vistaprint, Fred Drews, Ernestine Alderman, Rhua Dale Williams, SuzAnne Burkhalter, Billy Burkhalter, Chris Hackbarth, Lou Ellen Adams, Leslie Wilson, W. Heath Hillman, Chad Shook, Deborah Gambrell, Sheila Smallwood, John Smallwood, Ron Doleac, Maura McLaughlin, Carol Ann Bustin, Mike Barefield, Nancy Stokes, Leigh Berry, and the fine people at William Carey University who stepped up to the plate to organize a candidate's forum.  Thanks also to WDAM, who did not go out of their way to make me look bad on TV (I know it could be really easy).

Finally, thanks to my lovely and talented wife, Tina Ignatiev.  She has been really supportive of my efforts, and I hope that I will justify her confidence in me.  Let's all get out there and vote for improved accessibility and accountability in our Chancery Courts.