QUALIFY

From page 1 a voice for the county employees, giving them an opportunity to come to the supervisors and voice their opinions.”

He said many of the county roads posed a danger to citizens and to county firefighters.

“There are just so many dirt roads in Oktibbeha County,” Thompson said. “At

this time, many of those roads should be paved.”

In addition to Miller, Thompson also faces former District 4 Supervisor Daniel Jackson, a Democrat who lost to Miller in the November 2015 General Election.

Mccain is a 1989 Starkville High School alumnus and lifelong Oktibbeha County resident, who is seeking office for the first time. He is employed by Maxxsouth

Broadband as a regional warehouse manager.

“I just want to serve Oktibbeha County and be a voice for the people of District 1,” Mccain said.

Mccain said he hoped to improve the county government.

“As a matter of fact, all of the county government (issues are) important to me,” Mccain said. “One's not more important than the other.”

So far, Montgomery is Mccain's sole opponent.

Daniels will run his third race for the District 3 seat, following previous contests in 2015 and 2011. In the 2011 race, Daniels lost to Howard by three votes. Daniels is a former Starkville Police Officer and Oktibbeha County Sherriff's Deputy, as well as a Mississippi Army National Guard veteran. While serving in the National Guard, Daniels was

wounded in Iraq in 2004 and medically retired after 18 years of service. He said being medically retired would enable him to be a full-time supervisor.

“I will be out there on the roads every day,” Daniels said. “It's not going to be like others that have full-time jobs.”

He listed economic development as one of his biggest issues.

“I really want to focus on bringing some jobs to Oktibbeha

County, working with the LINK, working with the city, working with the university, all of those together.” Daniels said. “I think I've got some really good ideas.”

Daniels holds a master's in public policy and administration from Mississippi State University.

In addition to Howard, he will face Rudy Johnson, the current director of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District.