Election Is Tuesday
Nearly 450 of the 7,000 registered active voters in the county had taken advantage of early voting as of mid-day Tuesday, with early voting continuing through 4:30 p.m. tomorrow, May 20.
Any registered voter who does not vote by Friday may go to their regular polling place Tuesday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and cast their ballot in a number of contested races, and even more uncontested.
Jasper County voters are being asked to choose a School Board member from District 4, meaning only those voters in District 4 vote in that race. District 2 is also up for election, but the only candidate is incumbent Erin Lynch.
Bill Schilling and Wesley Sparks are seeking the District 4 School Board seat being vacated by Paul Kelly.
Likewise, voters in District 5 will choose a County Commission candidate. Incumbent Doug Luke is being challenged by Roger A. Harrison, both on the Republican ballot.
Tuesday’s election is the primary for the Republicans and Democrats, and the Non-partisan election. The general election is in November. However, unless an independent qualifies, whoever is elected Tuesday will hold the School Board post and the County Commission post.
District 3 County Commissioner Gene Trammell faces no opposition in the primary, but Ross Hays has announced he is seeking the post as an independent. Therefore that will be voted on in November.
District 1 County Commission seat is also up for election, but long-time Commissioner Carl Pennamon has no announced opposition.
The non-partisan election has attracted much interest locally, with Chief Magistrate Ken Jackson not seeking re-election, and three vying for that seat. Magistrate Angie Steele, Tim Lam and Bobby Jacobs are hoping to be the next Chief Magistrate.
In addition, Superior Court Judge Hugh Wingfield is not seeking re-election, planning to retire at the end of his term in December, and there is a three-way race for that seat. Dawn Baskin, Christian Henry and Amanda Petty are vying for that seat.
Locally, Sheriff Donnie Pope, Tax Commissioner Angela Stone Walsh, Probate Judge Linda Mock Keller, Surveyor Linda H. Jordan, and Coroner Billy Norris have no opposition for their positions.
Also, State Rep. Susan Holmes of Monticello and Sen. Burt Jones of Jackson are seeking re-election without any opposition.
Several judgeships are also up for election without a contested race. District Attorney Stephen Bradley is also running unopposed.
Independents qualify in June, so persons could run, but no one has announced their intention. Clerk of Superior Court Dan Jordan will seek re-election as an independent. He has no announced opposition.
Voters must choose either a Republican or Democratic ballot, or they can choose just to vote in the non-partisan election. However, Democrats and Republicans may also vote non-partisan.
Both parties have questions on their ballot for voters to voice their opinions.
Those races that are contested are listed below:
U.S. Senate
Republican
•Mary Kay Bacallao
•Derrick Grayson
•Johnny Isakson (I)
U. S. Senate
Democratic
•Jim Barksdale
•Cheryl Copeland
•John F. Coyne III
•James Knox
Public Service Commissioner
Republican
•Kellie Pollard Austin
Tim Echols (I)
•Michelle Miller
County Commissioner
District 5
Republican
•Roger A. Harrison
•Doug Luke (I)
Superior Court Judge
Non-Partisan
•Dawn M. Baskin
•Christian G. Henry
•Amanda S. Petty
Chief Magistrate
Non-Partisan
•Bobby Jacobs
•Tim Lam
•Angie Steele
Board of Education
District 4
Non-Partisan
•Bill Schilling
•Wesley Sparks
