After qualifying ended, most candidates are running unopposed

Adelia Ladson, The Moultrie Observer, Ga.
·2 min read

Mar. 12—MOULTRIE — Two Republicans will run for the clerk of Superior Court, being vacated by Lynn Purvis, while a Democrat will face Sheriff Rod Howell in November.

Qualifying was held March 4 through March 8 for the state and local general primary that will be held May 21.

The partisan offices that are up for local reelection include sheriff, clerk of court, tax commissioner, solicitor for state court, coroner and County Commissioners for Districts 2, 4 and 6. Of those, only one race will be contested in the May election.

The Republicans candidates who qualified are for sheriff, Rod Howell (incumbent); clerk of Superior Court, Jessica C. Boyd and Donna Wilson; tax commissioner, Cindy Harvin (incumbent); state court solicitor, Mickey Waller; coroner, Verlyn Brock (incumbent); County Commissioner District 2, Chris Hunnicutt (incumbent); County Commissioner District 4, Mike Boyd (incumbent); and County Commissioner District 6, Johnny Hardin (incumbent).

The Democrat candidate for sheriff is Ernest Jones.

State Rep. Chas Cannon and state Sen. Sam Watson are running unopposed for re-election as Republicans. Neither drew Democratic opposition for November.

U.S. Rep. Austin Scott is running unopposed in the Republican primary, but two Democrats, Darrius Maurice Butler of Houston County and Vince Watkins of Tift County, will face off May 21 to see which of them will oppose Scott in November.

Local non-partisan offices that are up for reelection include probate judge, judge for state court and Board of Education for districts 2, 3, and 6. Two of the Board of Education seats will be contested, but all of the other races will have only one candidate.

Candidates who qualified for the non-partisan races are as follows: for probate judge, Wes Lewis (incumbent); judge for State Court, Richard T. Kent; Board of Education member District 2, Jon Schwalls (incumbent) and Brad Gregory; Board of Education member District 3, Keith Adams and Matthew Clifton; and Board of Education member District 6, Beth Cannon.

Judge Richard M. Cowart is retiring leaving a Superior Court judgeship open in the Southern Judicial Circuit, and Jeremy Baker and William Whitesell, both of Valdosta, have qualified as candidates for his position.

Southern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brad Shealy qualified for re-election with no opposition.