HARRISON COUNTY - Connie Rockco won a second term as District 5 supervisor in Harrison County on Tuesday by defeating state Rep. Les Barnett in the Republican primary.

The Rockco-Barnett contest was the most publicized primary race in the county. The incumbent won handily, capturing nearly 65 percent of the vote.

Celebrating at Sunkist Country Club in Biloxi, Rockco thanked her friends and family for helping her during the campaign.

"When people believe in you, it just means so much," she said.

She is unopposed in November's general election.

Rockco captured the seat in 1999 after a vigorous grass-roots campaign, defeating longtime incumbent C.T. Switzer Jr. The victory surprised many.

She said the primary result proves that she has the voters' confidence.

"They want honesty, hard work and accountability, and they know they can get that from me," she said.

In her first term, Rockco ruffled feathers by questioning the way county commissions, especially the county Development Commission, spend the public's money.

She said she will continue to closely watch how commissions spend county tax dollars.

Barnett has served as state representative for District 115 since 1995, but gave up his seat to run for supervisor in order to be closer to his two daughters.

He took comfort in knowing he'll no longer have to travel to Jackson.

"My plans are to come home and be a dad," he said. "I enjoy public life, but right now I'm just going to enjoy being with my children."

He said he was proud of his effort.

"She came out on top, but I have no regrets," he said.

In the only other contested primary for county supervisor, incumbent William Martin won the Democratic primary for the District 4 supervisor seat over challenger Katie Perrone.

Democrats selected Anderson Hall, an officer for the Bay St. Louis Police Department, to challenge incumbent Republican George Payne for the Harrison County sheriff's office.

Hall said he was "stunned" by his victory. He said he will "work for the people and be a listening ear" if elected sheriff.

The primaries had a 20 percent voter turnout. There are 85,971 registered voters in the county, and 22,860 voted on Tuesday.