Monday Is Deadline To Register To Vote

Next Monday, April 25, is the deadline to register to vote in the General Primary and Nonpartisan General Election set for May 24. Voters will have much to choose from, with competition on both the Democratic and Republican ballots.

Voters are reminded this is a primary so they must choose whether to vote in the Republican Primary or the Democratic Primary. Each district will have a slightly different ballot, and all ballots are available to peruse and review on the walls on the ground floor of the Courthouse.

Locally, there are two contested school board seats. District 1 board member Towonder Dennis is seeking re-election and she is being challenged by Cyndi Johns. District 3 board member Dr. Shannon Barton is not seeking re-election. Three people are running for her seat. They are Gavin Collins, Jehan El-Jourbagy, and Steven “Bubba” Wilson, Jr. District 5 board member Lewis Rice is running for re-election unopposed.

Districts 2 and 4 for the Jasper County Commission are up for election, but District 2 Commission Chair Bruce Henry and District 4 Commission Vice-Chair Gerald Stunkel are running for re-election without opposition.

Both the Republican and Democratic ballots have several questions for voters.

Among the choices on the ballot are United States Senate. Republicans running for the seat currently occupied by Democrat Raphael Warnock are Gary W. Black, Josh Clark, Kelvin King, Jonathan “Jon” McColumn, Latham Saddler, and Herschel Junior Walker. Sen. Warnock is seeking re-election and is being challenged on the Democratic ballot by Tamara Johnson-Shealey.

Stacey Abrams is the sole Democrat seeking to be Georgia’s next governor. She will face the winner of the Republican primary which has five choices. Gov. Brian Kemp is seeking re-election, and he is being challenged by Catherine Davis, David A. Perdue, Kandiss Taylor, and Tom Williams.

Sen. Burt Jones, who has served Jasper and surrounding counties for several years is seeking the post of Lieutenant Governor on the Republican ballot. Others seeking that post are Mack McGregor, Butch Miller, and Jeanne Seaver. Democrats seeking to serve as Lieutenant Governor include Erick E. Allen, Charlie Bailey, Tyrone Brooks, Jr., Tony Brown, Kwanza Hall, Jason T. Hayes, Derrick L. Jackson, R. Malik, and Renitta Shannon.

The Secretary of State race is also crowded. Democrats seeking that seat include Dee Dawkins-Haigler, John Eaves, Floyd Griffin, Bee Nguyen, and Michael Owens. Republican Brad Raffensperger is seeking re-election and is being challenged by David C. Belle Isle, Jody Hice, and T.J. Hudson.

Republican Chris Carr is seeking re-election as Attorney General and he is being challenged by fellow Republican John Gordon. Democrats seeking that post include Jennifer “Jen” Jordan and Christian Wise Smith.

Tyler Harper is the sole Republican seeking the post of Commissioner of Agriculture. Democrats Winfred Dukes, Nakita Hemingway and Fred Swann are also seeking the post.

John King is seeking re-election as Commissioner of Insurance. He is being challenged by fellow Republicans Ben Cowart and Patrick Witt. Democrats seeking to serve in that post include Raphael Baker, Janice Laws Robinson and Matthew Wilson.

State School Superintendent Richard Woods, Republican, is being challenged by John D. Barge on the Republican ticket. Democrats seeking to lead the schools include Currey Hitchens, Jaha V. Howard, James Morrow, Jr., and Alisha Thomas Searcy.

The Commissioner of Labor post is highly sought after with three Republicans and five Democrats vying for the seat. Republicans are Kartik Bhatt, Mike Coan and Bruce Thompson. Democrats are William “Will” Boddie Jr., Thomas Dean, Nicole Horn, Lester G. Jackson, III, and Nadia Surrency.

For the District 10 U.S. House of Representatives, there are numerous contenders. Republicans include Timothy Barr, Paul Broun, Mike Collins, David Curry, Vernon J. Jones, Marc McMain, Alan Sims, and Mitchell Swan. Democrats seeking that post include Jessica Allison Fore, Tabitha Johnson-Green, Phyllis Hatcher, Femi Oduwole, and Paul Walton.

For State Senate District 25, the seat currently held by Burt Jones, Republicans seeking to fill the seat are Rick Jeffares, Leland “Jake” Olinger II, Daniela Sullivan-Marzahi, and Ricky “Rick” Williams. Democratic Valerie Rodgers is also seeking that seat.

For State House of Representatives, District 118, which now serves part of Jasper County, Republican Clint Crowe is seeking re-election. Democrat Sharonda Bell is also seeking that post.

Two Public Service Commission Posts are up for election. Republican Tim Echols is seeking re-election without opposition on the Republican ticket. Two Democrats are seeking the post. They are Patty Durand and Russell Edwards. For District 3 PSC seat, Republican Fitz Johnson is running unopposed. Democrats seeking the post are Shelia Edwards, Chandra Farley and Missy Moore.

In the non-partisan election, incumbent Verda M. Colvin is being challenged by Veronica Brinson for Georgia Supreme Court Justice. There are no other contested non-partisan elections except for the local school board.

Again, this is a primary and non-partisan election, voters may only vote for Republicans or Democrats and non-partisan. In November, the Republican nominee and Democratic nominee will face one another and voters may vote for whomever they choose, regardless of party.