Sam Haskell of Oxford, known across the region as the creator of the “Stars of Mississippi” benefit, said Tuesday he’s not interested in running this year as a Republican for U.S. House of Representatives.

His name has been among those bantered around in political spheres as a possible to try to unseat Democrat U.S. Rep. Travis Childers of Booneville in the November general election.

“It is humbling to receive letters and telephone calls, and even for people to stop you on the street and tell you that they want you to run for Congress,” said Haskell in an e-mail to the media.

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As for the Mississippi Court of Appeals, Tupelo attorney Kelly Mims is still considering entry into that race against incumbent Donna Barnes of Tupelo.

Mims, whose name also was mentioned early in the U.S. attorney replacement process, apparently is sizing up his chances against Barnes, who makes her first defense of the seat to which Gov. Haley Barbour appointed her a few years ago.

In Mississippi, judicial candidates do not run by political party.

Qualifying deadline isn’t until May.

North Mississippi’s other Court of Appeals judge, Jimmy Maxwell of Oxford, also faces his first election after a Barbour appointment more recently than Barnes.

No one except Barnes and Maxwell have qualified for the seats.

Come back to “From the Front Row” as things develop.

… patsy