OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Annexation has become a testy issue in the battle between incumbent Tommy Brodnax and challenger Troy Ross in Tuesday's Republican runoff for Jackson County District 4 Supervisor.The winner will face Democrat Bo Alawine in the Nov. 8 general election.
Brodnax and Ross are both running advertising in local publications that they oppose the annexation of St. Martin and Latimer.
However, Brodnax's latest ad indicates Ross, Ocean Springs Alderman at large, voted for annexation of "a large area of Jackson County."
Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran issued a press release Friday that Brodnax's ad apparently triggered calls to City Hall about the city's annexation plans, which she said are on hold.
"The city of Ocean Springs has no intention to annex the Latimer area, counter to the current political advertisements placed by Supervisor Tommy Brodnax," Moran said in her released statement.
"Those misleading assertions have no base in fact, and the current city administration has not discussed this area. The city has postponed annexation plans regarding the Miss. 57 area, just north of I-10, but is not considering any land area in Supervisor District 4."
Brodnax said that a couple of years ago, Moran told Supervisors that she wanted to annex a portion of Interstate 10 in Latimer and St. Martin, so the city could garner federal grants.
"I'll fight Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, whoever wants to take in more of our community," Brodnax said. "We need to keep our community the way it is."
Brodnax said he told Moran in that meeting that they, "would duke it out in court if she ever tried annexation."
"That whole bunch on the Board of Aldermen want me out of the way," Brodnax said.
Ross also said Brodnax's statements were untrue regarding annexation.
"There has never been discussion by our board about any annexation north of Fort Bayou," Ross said. "He appears to be making this up to help him win this election."
Ross said he's never badmouthed Brodnax and will not in the future.
"Throughout my whole campaign, I've only said why you should vote for me and never why you shouldn't vote for him," Ross said. "We're going to keep doing just that."
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