Candidates: Fields set for General Primary, Nonpartisan elections in May
Candidates have signed up and early voting will begin in April in Georgia’s General Primary and Nonpartisan elections.
Fannin County Election Supervisor Mary Ann Conner released the names of candidates in local races Friday, March 8, shortly after qualifying ended at noon.
At total of 12 Fannin County contests are on the ballots, seven of those contested.
In the May 21 Republican primary election;
•Incumbent Sheriff Dane Kirby is being challenged by Billy Brackett, Matthew Kaylor and Barry Wayne Johnston;
•Robbie Cornelius Long and Julie Walker have both qualified in the Tax Commissioner race. Incumbent Tax Commissioner Rita Newton has announced she will not seek re-election; and,
•Incumbent Clerk of Superior Court Dana Chastain is being challenged by Philip Owensby.
In school board races;
•Incumbent Terry Bramlett is being challenged for his seat by Ashley Herndon-Weeks;
•Incumbent Lewis Deweese is being challenged for his seat by Adam Born and Greg Staffins; and,
•Incumbent Chad Galloway is being challenged for his seat by Robert Patterson.
One contested race is on the Nonpartisan Election ballot. Incumbent Fannin County Judge of Probate Court Scott Kiker is being challenged by Manda Gwatney.
No Democratic Party candidates qualified in any of these races.
In the other Fannin County races that will appear on the General Primary and later the General Election ballot in November;
•County Commission Chairman Jamie V. Hensley has qualified on the Republican ballot and faces no challengers;
•Post 1 Commissioner Johnny Scearce has qualified on the Republican ballot and will face Democratic challenger Larry Syputa in the November General Election;
•Incumbent Coroner Becky Callihan has qualified for another term and faces no opposition in either election; and,
•Incumbent Surveyor Shelly Bishop also faces no opposition in either election.
In the other race on the Nonpartisan ballot, Incumbent Chief Magistrate Judge Brian D. Jones faces no opposition.
Based on qualifying, and barring a runoff in the sheriff’s election or school board seat held by Deweese, all local Fannin County races with the exception of Post 1 Commissioner will be decided in May 21 voting.
In three other contests that will appear May 21, Frank Wood III is running for District Attorney, Steve Gooch is seeking re-election as senator from the 51st District, and Johnny Chastain is seeking a full term from the 7th District in Georgia’s House of Representatives. All three are unopposed and have qualified on the Republican ballot.
Statewide, Amanda Mercier is unopposed in her re-election bid to the state Court of Appeals.
Ninth District U.S. House Representative Andrew Clyde has no opposition in the Republican primary, but will face Democratic candidate Tambrei Cash in the November General Election.
Early voting will begin April 29.