Races are set for the May 21 general and non-partisan primary election. Candidates for county-wide races include: Sheriff: Ramsey Bennett and Grady Wilson Coroner: Kellyn Carter and William Wilson Candidates for district races include: County Commission, District 1: Danny Christmas, Troy Mattox and Harold Rozier Jr. County Commission, District 3: Randy Dixon and James D. “Jim” Riggins. All candidates qualified as Republicans. These will be the only contested local races.
In the Sheriff’s race, the winner of the Republican primary will face Independent candidate Robby Boatright in the Nov. 5 general election, if Boatright qualifies for the ballot by the July 9 deadline. In the district one commission race, a candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a run-off. If no candidate receives a majority, a run-off election will be held Tuesday, June 18. Two newcomers and an incumbent will run unopposed in the election. Melissa Howard is unopposed for clerk of court to succeed the retiring Thomas Sauls and Nicole Scurry is unopposed for tax commissioner, to succeed the retiring Terresa Davis. Stephen Duncan will run unopposed for surveyor. Howard and Scurry will begin serving their first terms in January. Duncan will begin his fourth term in January. In non partisan races, Shelly Herndon will run unopposed for magistrate judge. Current judge Terry Thrift decided not to seek a full term after being appointed to the post following the retirement of Judge Glenda Dowling.
Probate Judge Moye Howard, district one school board member Kirby Malone and district three school board member Chip Griner will all run unopposed. Malone will begin his second term and Howard and Griner will begin their third terms in January. In district non-partisan races, Superior Court Judges J. Kelly Brooks and Andy Spivey are unopposed and will begin serving another term in January.
Jim Waters also qualified unopposed for the Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor. In federal, state and district partisan races, Congressman Buddy Carter (R, Pooler) is unopposed for the Republican nomination, but will face Democrat Patti Hewitt in November. State Senator Russ Goodman (R, Cogdell) and State Representative Steven Meeks (R-Screven) are both running unopposed and will begin serving another term in January.
Advanced early voting for the May primary election will be held from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. April 29-May 17, at the elections office at 312 Nichols Street. Saturday voting will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. May 4 and 11. Polls will be open election day from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 21. Deadline to register to vote is April 22.
