Stokes holds on to commission seat
Published 3:27 am Wednesday, November 6, 2002
By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP – Managing Editor
The Escambia County Commission will not be changed as voters re-elected both Commission Chairman Larry White and Commissioner David Stokes by comfortable margins Tuesday.
Stokes, incumbent commissioner for District 1, which includes Brewton, defeated Republican challenger Melinda Maddox. With all precincts reporting, Stokes took 1,729 votes to Maddox's 369.
The other county commission seat determined on Tuesday, was in District 3 seat. Incumbent Larry White (D) held on to his seat over James Strength (R) with 70 percent of the vote, 1,335 to 562.
Also appearing on the ballot were a number of seats that ran unopposed.
To complete the county commissioner sweep, incumbent Wiley Tait ran unopposed for District 5.
For Escambia County School Board, Michael Goolsby (D) and Willie J. Grissett (D) ran unopposed. The tax assessor seat will be filled by incumbent James Hildreth Jr. (D). Democrat Rachel Agerton held off several opponents in the primary to run unopposed for tax collector.
The race for county sheriff also ended with this summer's primary as challenger Grover Smith defeated incumbent Tim Hawsey to run unopposed in the general election.
Also running unopposed was District 66 State Representative F.P. "Skippy" White.