CHARLESTON, Miss.—Antonio Mabry is a first-time voter. The 18-year-old Greenwood native will be exercising his right during the Dec. 2 runoff election for District 24 State Senator between Dr. Curressia M. Brown and Justin Pope. A senior at Amanda Elzy High School, Mabry is excited to vote in this upcoming election.
“I think it’s an awesome opportunity for me to voice my opinion and just share my perspective. I think voting allows me to have an impact on policies that impact my community from those who are elected,” Mabry told the Mississippi Free Press on Nov. 13.
While Mabry is a Leflore County native, he traveled an hour north to a candidate forum in Charleston, located in Tallahatchie County, on Nov. 13 to hear the candidates’ plans for District 24, which includes portions of the three counties of Leflore, Tallahatchie and Panola. With Brown being a long time resident and Pope being a native of Panola, Tallahatchie county serves as the battleground area for voters.
“My expectation for whichever senator is elected is that they advocate for us and hear us. When we say we want or need this, show us that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to provide,” Mabry said in an interview with the Mississippi Free Press.
Campaigning at the Capitol
After the Nov. 4 election, Dr. Curressia M. Brown and Justin Pope received the most votes out of six candidates across voters in the three counties in District 24, warranting a runoff election on Dec. 2. As the campaign trail continues for both candidates, Brown and Pope are covering more ground and speaking on issues facing the district. The winner will finish out the remaining two years of David Jordan’s term after Jordan’s retirement this past summer.
Antonio Mabry, a first-time voter, attends the candidate forum event in Charleston, Miss. on Nov. 13, 2025. Photo by Jaylin R. Smith, Mississippi Free Press
On Nov. 13, the city of Charleston hosted a candidate forum, giving voters an opportunity to discuss issues and solutions with their future state senator. Many topics were discussed, but the pressing issues were surrounding economic development, crime rates, health care and education.
Brown, a 20-plus-year educator, discussed her advocacy for the full-funding of public education, giving students the resources they need to be successful.
“My first thing to advocate for the full funding of public schools. We have to make sure our schools have the resources they need. We have to pay teachers. We have to fight so that they are fairly paid,” Brown said.
She also added that she wants to see opportunities for more certification programs added to school curriculums for students that are interested in trades.
“I would love to see our schools (allow) students to graduate with certifications. Imagine what they could do if they were job-ready when they came out of high school. They could compete with folks who are in the field,” Brown said.
Dr. Curressia M. Brown speaking at the candidate forum event in Charleston, Miss. on Nov. 13, 2025. Photo by Jaylin R. Smith, Mississippi Free Press
Justin Pope, a native of his namesake Pope, Mississippi, is the corporate deputy of the Progressive Health Group in Batesville. Pope spoke on the importance of investing in the community as resources for educational assets, specifically hiring and training teachers that are community-grown.
“When teachers connect more to students, watch how you see the education system change. People connect with certain people when you see them in community. That’s how we change,” Pope said.
Pope is also an advocate for more vocational classes and training in public schools. He believes that these classes can give students alternate routes to going to college.
“College isn’t for everyone. Those trade schools? Those CT (career and technical) programs? South Panola has one of the number-one welders in his class right now. He’s about to leave high school right now making $27 an hour,” Pope said.
Crime in the Mississippi Delta was a heavy topic for the candidates. While both candidates agreed that crime rates in District 24 were steadily increasing, they expressed different approaches to addressing the issue.
Pope believes that stronger mental health intervention was necessary for building stronger communities and deterring citizens away from crime.
“One of the biggest problems we have here in Mississippi is mental health. Mental health plays a big part in everything we do. This is not the time where we can tell our kids just to go sit in the corner,” Pope said.
He also added that there is a need for more “boots on the ground” in local communities to better protect communities.
“We have to be willing to sit down with the sheriff department and the local city police because right now they’re struggling. We don’t have enough boots on the ground, but also they don’t have the budget for it. That’s a problem,” Pope said.
Justin Pope speaking at the candidate forum event in Charleston, Miss. on Nov. 13, 2025. Photo by Jaylin R. Smith, Mississippi Free Press
Dr. Curressia M. Brown believes that the relationship between the police and communities needs to be repaired.
“We have to make sure that our children’s first encounter with the police officers is not handcuffed in the back of the car. Mental health is critical, not only in addressing that need, but training the officers to deal with individuals who are in mental crisis,” Brown shared.
She also challenged citizens to be better in their roles in community policing.
“Sometimes we shoot ourselves in the foot. We say we want to be protected, but then when those protections are in place, we’re mad. We’ve got to decide what we want,” Brown said.
‘You Didn’t Make a Promise’
Mayor Sedrick Smith was glad to host the event for Tallahatchie county in Charleston. He believes that the forum was a great way for citizens in the community to hear directly from their future state senator.
“Tonight’s event was great. We had two candidates come and share valuable information on what they can do for (District 24). We wanted to hear their views and see how we can partner on things. The community asked pivotal questions. I think it was a beautiful event,” Smith told the Mississippi Free Press on Nov. 13.
Mayor Smith also looks forward to talking with each of the candidates to see how they can help create solutions to some of the issues the community still faces.
“I would like to talk to them 1-on-1 because when Senator (David) Jordan was there I had some things on table and I understand with the health issues that he had, he was not able to push them forward. So the same coursing problems that I had with him, I still have them,” Smith said to the Mississippi Free Press on Nov. 13.
Miss. House Rep, Tracey Rosebud waves at the candidate forum event in Charleston, Miss. on Nov. 13, 2025. Photo by Jaylin R. Smith, Mississippi Free Press
Mississippi House Rep. Tracey Rosebud of District 30, a Charleston native, attended to give words of encouragement and accountability to the two candidates.
“One of the greatest things that I admired about both of you all tonight is that you didn’t make a promise… Personally, I look forward to working with whoever wins, and we’re going to work. Because when they ask me to do something in the community, I’m going to be asking you to do something in that community,” Rosebud said.
The runoff election for District 24 state senator between Dr, Curressia M. Brown and Justin Pope will be held on Dec. 2 in Leflore, Tallahatchie, and Panola, giving the counties a new senator for the first time in over 30 years.
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