Polls open Tuesday for key political primary elections

While many political races won’t be finalized until November, the primaries on Tuesday will decide the fate of many political hopefuls.

The Democratic, Republican and non-partisan races will be on county ballots when the polls open across the state at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

People with precinct cards can find their voting district and precinct location on their cards.

Many candidates are running unopposed in their primaries and won’t face opposition until the November General Election.

However, a number of political seats will be contested in the primaries with no opposition in November, making the primaries the key election.

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In Clarke County, the race for sheriff showcases incumbent John Q. Williams, completing his first term, against Clarke County School System officer Tommy Dorsey in the Democratic primary. The winner is expected to fill the office with no opposition in November.

Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson did not seek re-election, but two Democrats, Michael Eberhart and William C. Gaulden Jr., are seeking the office. They don’t face any opposition in November.

There are some contested races for seats on the Athens-Clarke County Commission.

District 2 Commissioner Melissa Link is opposed by Jason Jacobs and in District 8 Sidney Waters is challenging incumbent Carol Myers. In District 6, two newcomers, Rashe Malcom and Stephanie Johnson, are seeking the seat.

In Oconee County, Commission Chairman John E. Daniell is challenged by Pamela Lohr Hendrix in the Republican primary, while in the same primary incumbent commissioner Mark T. Saxon is opposed by Victoria E. Cruz.

Many state political office holders are unopposed in the primaries, but in the Athens area, State Rep. Marcus A. Wiedower of District 121 is opposed by fellow Republican John Michael Grigsby.

Another key primary vote takes place this year in Jackson County, where longtime sheriff Janis Mangum decided against seeking another term. Four candidates have filed to take over her office.

Dale Allen Dillow, a former investigator for the sheriff’s office; Ken Harmon, the police chief for Commerce; Kevin McCook, the training director for the sheriff’s office; and, Chris Nichols, a captain in the Athens-County Clarke County Police Department, are all in the running in the Republican primary. Due to the number of candidates a runoff is likely.

The only controversial incident occurring during this race was when Dillow lost his job after he was caught on videotape going into his rival’s locked office and looking through McCook’s papers and a drawer. Dillow later apologized for the matter.

The eventual winner in the primary is expected to become the next sheriff with no Democratic party candidate opposition in November.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Tuesday's primaries is key for some political seats in Athens area