Primaries Are Tuesday

Jasperites, like voters across the state, will trek to the polls Tuesday for the Democratic and Republican primaries to determine who will represent each party in the general election in November.

There are no local contested races in the primary, however voters will select their party’s nominee to the 10th Congressional District seat and for U.S. Senate, governor, state school superintendent, insurance commissioner, and public service commissioner.

In addition, voters will determine whether to extend the education local option sales tax (ELOST) to pay off bonded indebtedness. A yes vote will extend the tax for five more years, which could be enough to pay off the debt.

There are also a number of uncontested races.

The tenth congressional district race is possibly the most hotly contested with eight Republicans vying for the position. They are M.A. “Mike” Collins, Gary Gerrard, Jody B. Hice, Donna H. Sheldon, Stephen K. Simpson, Brian Richard Slowinski, and S. Mitchell Swan.

Seven Republicans and four Democrats are vying for the U.S. Senate seat.

Six Democrats and nine Republicans are seeking the state school superintendent position. Two Republicans are challenging Gov. Nathan Deal for his seat, and in the fall the winner will face Democrat Jason Carter.

Jasperites in District 2 will have to decide between incumbent Republican County Commissioner Bruce Henry and Democratic challenger, former long-time county commissioner Charles Hill, but that race won’t matter until the general election.

Early voting at the Courthouse continues until 4:30 p.m. tomorrow, May 16, and then everyone else will need to vote on Tuesday.