Jack Grogan congratulates Shelly Ashley-Palmertree, the Democratic nominee for the Warren County circuit clerk’s position, after votes were tallied Tuesday night. Looking on are Ashley-Palmertree’s husband, Roger Palmertree, left, and Johnny Williams.(Melanie Duncan Thortis The Vicksburg Post)

[8/6/03]Shelly Ashley-Palmertree won the Democratic nomination for Warren County circuit clerk on the first ballot Tuesday, eliminating two opponents and advancing to the general election to face four more.

Ashley-Palmertree, 34, received 3,501 votes to 1,278 for Jack Grogan, 51, and 626 for Gil Culkin, 49. Since she has more than half of all votes cast in the primary, she becomes the nominee with no runoff needed.

“I’m just really excited, a bit overwhelmed,” Ashley-Palmertree said after her outright victory became apparent. She is a veteran in the office, working for her father, Larry Ashley, who is retiring. “I just appreciate everybody that took the time to get out and vote today,” she said. “Without them voting, this wouldn’t have happened.”

The Democratic primary for circuit clerk topped all elections in the county with 5,425 votes cast. With Republican ballots added, it appeared 9,124 people voted Tuesday for a turnout of 27.4 percent. Approximately 31 percent of voters cast ballots in the past two such primary elections.

The Republican primary race with the most votes cast was that for governor, in which 3,729 people voted.

“I think I ran a pretty good race,” said Grogan, an educator, after congratulating Ashley-Palmertree. “I met a lot of good people in the community, I just came up a little short.”

The Nov. 4 general election ballot will list Ashley-Palmertree against Republican Trey Miller, 36, and independents Mike Caruthers, 48; Bertha Williams Conner, 55; and Fred Sherard, 40.

Miller, who was unopposed for the Republican nomination, received 2,817 votes.

For three other countywide posts, Democratic incumbents are running unopposed, and their names also appeared on primary ballots Tuesday.

Tax Collector Patricia Simrall, 56, received the highest vote total of any candidate on Tuesday ballots, 5,011. Chancery Clerk Dot McGee, 65, garnered the third-highest total, 4,739. And Tax Assessor Richard Holland, 47, received 4,559 votes, the sixth-highest number of votes cast.

Coroner John Thomason, 44, is also running unopposed. He is an independent candidate, and his name will first appear on ballots in November.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace, 44, is seeking re-election as an independent. He faces opposition from Republican Gary Lick, 52. In Tuesday’s primary, Lick received 2,069 votes.