Stacey Wilkes was elected as the next state representative for Mississippi House District 108 Tuesday night.
Unofficially, she received about 50.4 percent of the vote, meeting the 50 percent plus one requirement to prevent a runoff election.
“I’m overwhelmed with the support I’ve received from the community and my friends and family,” Wilkes said Wednesday in a phone interview. “I’m very excited to go to work.”
Over the next five months, Wilkes said she plans to familiarize herself with the issues presented in Jackson and the issues her community faces in Pearl River County.
Wilkes said she hopes her background in the insurance industry can be put to work by being appointed to the insurance committee, but would be open to other committees as well.
“I cannot wait to work with Senator [Angela] Hill. We’ve worked on healthcare and other issues together before,” Wilkes said.
Wilkes was strongly endorsed by the Mississippi State Senator throughout her campaign.
She will also be serving alongside Representative John Corley who was elected to represent District 106 last year.
“I think we will have a great delegation from Pearl River County and will all work together,” Wilkes said.
In addition, Wilkes said she looks forward to working with county and city leaders to create better opportunities in Pearl River County.
“I look forward to working with them; together we can accomplish a lot of things; divided we can’t,” she said.
As far as the issues are concerned, Wilkes said shifting education funding from a district’s administration to the classroom will be one of her top priorities in the coming year.
In addition, Wilkes said she will focus on funding more vocational and personal finance management courses.
“So many students graduate from school and can’t balance a checkbook,” she said, adding that she was already researching other state’s programs in those areas.
According to initial counts, Wilkes received 1,375 votes. Enough of the affidavit and absentee votes were counted Tuesday night to ensure a runoff election would not be needed.
Some votes remain to be counted pending certification of that voter’s identification. Those who did not have proper identification cards at the polls have five days to present them to the Circuit Clerk’s office in order for that vote to count.
Tavish Kelly received 812 votes and Jerry Frazier received 531 votes during Tuesday’s election.
“I’m truly grateful for all the support I’ve been given and the opportunity to represent the people of Pearl River County,” Wilkes said.