Qualifying opens in Jackson, Barrow
Primary party election set July 15
Several high-profile races are starting to take shape in Jackson and Barrow counties as qualifying opened this week for July’s primary balloting. Qualifying will close on Friday at noon. Voters have until June 16 to register to vote in the July 15 party primaries.
Candidates qualify either as a Democrat or a Republican. So far in local county races, no Democrats have qualified to be on the ballot.
Non-Partisan elections will be held in November. That election will include the three judges of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit. Judge Bob Adamson reportedly plans to retire. Curry Mingledorf of Winder has announced plans to seek Adamson’s vacated seat.
TOP RACES
One of the leading races in the Jackson-Barrow area looks to be that for district attorney of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit, which covers both counties. A year of controversy has surrounded that office following last year’s arrest and later conviction of former DA Tim Madison, his wife and a former ADA on theft charges.
After Madison’s resignation last summer, Rick Bridgeman of Hoschton was appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue to fill the DA’s seat. Bridgeman now faces two challengers for the seat, former ADA Brad Smith of Hoschton and Jefferson attorney Donna Golden Sikes.
Both Jackson and Barrow counties will also have contested sheriff races. In Barrow County, Murray Kogod and Jud Smith have qualified to run for the seat being vacated by incumbent Joe Robinson. In Jackson County, long-time incumbent Stan Evans is being challenged by former Hoschton councilman Jim Keinard.
Both counties also have some high-profile races developing on their county commissions. In Jackson County, Hunter Bicknell of Hoschton has qualified for chairman of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners to replace incumbent Pat Bell who is not running for re-election. Bicknell is expected to face Ron Johnson for the chairman’s seat, although Johnson had not qualified as of presstime.
Also in Jackson County, District 2 incumbent Jody Thompson will have opposition from Chas Hardy. Hardy qualified this week. Thompson has not qualified, but announced earlier that he intended to seek re-election.
In Barrow County, incumbent District 1 commissioner Jerry Lampp will face challenger Larry Joe Wilburn and District 2 commissioner Bill Brown will face challenger Eva Elder. Current commission chairman Doug Garrison also qualified this week.
For more on this story see this week's edition of The Braselton News.
