Two Incumbents Defeated in Wheeler County

One incumbent held onto his seat, and two others lost their bids for reelection in the Local and State Primary/Nonpartisan Election on May 21 in Wheeler County; and, in a special election held the same day, voters approved a referendum for a one percent special local option sales tax to fund educational projects.

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Incumbent District 3 County Commissioner Keith McNeal handily won reelection, earning 299 votes (70.69%). His challenger, fellow Republican Dustin Shane Purvis, re- ceived 124 votes (29.31%). There are no Democrats seeking the post. McNeal, a retired state Department of Transportation employee, has served on the Commission since 2005. Purvis, a newcomer to the political scene, works in the logging industry.

Incumbent Randy Rigdon, a Republican, lost his bid for a third term as Wheeler Co u n t y Sheriff to Glenn Giles, also a Republican, who most recently served as police chief in McRae-Helena. Giles won 507 votes (56.02%) and Rig- don earned 398 votes (43.98%). (ere were no Democrats running in the primary.

Ted Mercer, who has served as Wheeler County coroner for the past two terms, lost his bid for reelection to challenger Kandi Day Purvis. Mercer re- ceived 423 votes (42.99%) and Purvis received 561 votes (57.01%) in the nonpartisan election.

A referendum to continue a one-cent sales and use tax to finance Wheeler County Schools capital and outlay projects was approved by a vote of 745 (78.09%) to 209 (21.9%). The sales tax currently being collected is anticipated to reach its collection maximum prior to its expiration on March 31, 2026. (e new tax will commence on April 1, 2026.