Lamar County Tax Assessor Poll

[TDaleBeavers]

While most local races are now resolved in Lamar County, one race that might draw some interest in the tax assessor's race between longtime incumbent Jim Patterson and Democratic challenger Terry Jerrall, who has blanketed the county with signs since the August run-off and appears to be putting forth a spirited effort. So, if the election were held today, for whom would you be inclined to support: Republican incumbent Jim Patterson or Democratic challenger Terry Jerrall?

[BlueDogDemocrat]

Incumbent Dinosaur Jim Patterson will win this one, easily.

You should know better than anyone, signs don't vote.

[TDaleBeavers]

Spirited campaigns don't either...Terry seems like a very nice guy, but I agree, Jim will win with at least 65 percent of the vote.

[BlueDogDemocrat]

I think you are right on with your percentages, a conservative estimate. I support Jim's re-election--no doubt about it.

When they carry Jim out of the tax assessors office in a pine box, I believe Jack Smith will ultimately succeed him. He has alot of personal and family connections in the county and has a great deal of experience.

[TDaleBeavers]

I think Terry's vote will be the die hard Democrat vote (which is maybe 15-20 percent in Lamar County) and some who are simply anti-Jim (age/health, ppl who think he's over-assessed them, etc). I like Jack Smith tremendously, and think he would have had a chance this time, had he run a smarter campaign. Being quoted in the Hattiesburg American (accurately or not) that he was just hoping the voters would "remember him when Jim does retire" sounded like a concession of defeat, and I think helped sink his chances. I was really predicting (in my own mind) that Stuart and Smith would draw enough votes to force a run-off -- and I was about five percentage points off. In a general election, Patterson's service and the overwhelming GOP trend in Lamar Countyw ill carry Jim to another four years in office.

[Augustus McRae]

I think Jim Patterson is perhaps the nicest, most genuine, most helpful public servant we have in the Pine Belt. He'll take 70% of the vote.

[TDaleBeavers]

He won 71 percent against Austin Stuart in 2003. I'm thinking he'll fall a few percentage points below that this time, simply because a few more think that it is time for a change. As I've joked numerous times, I hope that when I'm Jim's age, I can still enjoy the buffet at the Movie Star the way he still does on any given day!

In legendary status, Jim Patterson is the John C. Stennis of Lamar County politics.