Local Races Take Shape As Qualifying Starts
Two races had been established as of press time Tuesday and three more days of qualifying for the Republican and Democratic primaries remain.
Incumbent Sheriff Stan Evans and incumbent District Attorney Rick Bridgeman both face opposition.
Two other contested races appear certain. Chas Hardy qualified for the District 2 position on Jackson County Board of Commissioners. Incumbent Jody Thompson has not qualified but he announced earlier that he plans to seek re-election. And, Hunter Bicknell has qualified for the chairmanship of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, while Ron Johnson has announced his intentions to seek that post.
Eleven Republicans have qualified so far, but no one seeking office has qualified to run on the Democratic side.
In the sheriff’s race, Evans will face challenger Jim Keinard. Evans has served as sheriff since 1985. Keinard is a former member of the Hoschton City Council.
In the district attorney race, incumbent Rick Bridgeman will face Donna Golden Sikes and Brad Smith.
Other Republicans who had qualified as of Tuesday were:
•Lynn Wheeler, incumbent, Jackson County Board of Education, Post 4.
•Dan Venable, incumbent surveyor.
•Camie Thomas, incumbent clerk of courts.
•Don Moore, incumbent solicitor general.
•Margaret Deadwyler, incumbent probate judge.
•Billy Chandler, incumbent magistrate judge.
•Keith Whitfield, incumbent coroner.
Other seats on the ballot include:
•Jackson County Board of Education, post 1, (Michael Cronic, incumbent).
•State Court judge (Jerry Gray, incumbent).
•County Surveyor (Dan Venable, incumbent).
•Magistrate Judge (Billy Chandler, incumbent).
•Coroner (Keith Whitfield, incumbent).
•Tax Commissioner (Don Elrod, incumbent).
•Jackson County BOC, district 1 (Tom Crow, incumbent).
State Races
In the two state races impacting the county, incumbent Lee Hawkins, a Gainesville dentist, is the only candidate so far to qualify for State Senate District 49. Incumbent Tommy Benton, a retired teacher from Jefferson, is the only candidate so far to qualify for the District 31 state representative seat.
In the District 10 United States Representative race, three people have qualified so far: incumbent Paul Broun, Athens, and Barry Fleming, Augusta, both Republicans; and Bobby Saxon, Nicholson, a Democrat.
Qualifying ends Friday, May 2, at noon. Those running for an elected office must qualify at the headquarters of either the Republican or Democratic parties during that time. Republicans are asked to qualify at Premier Realty, located at 1383 Washington Street in Jefferson. Democrats are asked to qualify at the office of attorney Walter Harvey at 122 Washington Street in Jefferson.
The primary election will be held Tuesday, July 15. Voters must choose either a Republican or Democratic ballot for that election.
A runoff election after the primary, if needed, will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5.
The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 4. A runoff election, if needed, is planned for Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Non-partisan races in Jackson County will be on the general election ballot in November. The three Superior Court judge seats will be on this ballot. The qualifying will be June 23-27. Superior Court judges Robert Adamson, Joe Booth and David Motes have not announced whether they plan to seek re-election or not. Currie Mingledorff has announced that he plans to seek Adamson’s seat.
