By Matthew S.L. Cate
Staff Writer
Though many Georgia public office-seekers and others long have talked about this year’s election season, nobody until at least 9 a.m. this morning officially has become a candidate.
From today until noon Friday, anyone running for office must fill out all the proper forms and pay the fees required to run. And though there isn’t a presidential or U.S. Senate race this year, Georgia voters have plenty of big decisions to make between now and November.
In addition to voting for governor and their legislators, Georgians’ ballots will include candidates for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state school superintendent and commissioners of the agriculture, insurance and labor departments.
In addition, there are quite a few local races up for grabs, including two county commission seats each in Catoosa and Dade counties.
But they’ve got to qualify first, which is typically just a formality.
For state-level candidates, that means submitting fees and paperwork at the state Capitol and withstanding any challenges, said Kara Sinkule, a spokeswoman for the secretary of state’s office, which oversees elections.
“Most of the time it’s (someone saying) ‘I don’t believe they live in the district,’” she said about the potential for a challenge.
State-level candidates must pay fees amounting to 3 percent of the position’s salary, or $400 for legislative positions. The most expensive fee, $4,863, is filed when qualifying to run for Congress.
Georgia primary elections are set for July 18, followed by the Nov. 7 general election. Any runoff elections are held three weeks after those dates.
Each of the state legislators representing the Northwest Georgia area are seeking re-election, and there are only two races with announced opposition, one from within an incumbent’s own party.
Catoosa County Democratic Party Chairman Greg Bentley said he wishes there were more candidates, given what he perceives as a potentially good year for Democratic hopefuls.
So far only one Democratic candidate in the region has announced a legislative run: Walker County sheriff’s deputy Bruce Coker hopes to oppose incumbent Republican state Sen. Jeff Mullis.
“We’ve had several good people spark an interest,” Mr. Bentley said. “But for whatever reason, they’ve decided now’s not the time to do it.”
He said last week he was “95 percent” sure a Democratic candidate will emerge this week to run for the state House’s 3rd District.
Two Republicans are facing off for that seat in the primary: incumbent Rep. Ron Forster and former Catoosa County Commission Chairman L.C. Cripps.
E-mail Matthew S.L. Cate at mcate@timesfreepress.com
Staff Writer
Though many Georgia public office-seekers and others long have talked about this year’s election season, nobody until at least 9 a.m. this morning officially has become a candidate.
From today until noon Friday, anyone running for office must fill out all the proper forms and pay the fees required to run. And though there isn’t a presidential or U.S. Senate race this year, Georgia voters have plenty of big decisions to make between now and November.
In addition to voting for governor and their legislators, Georgians’ ballots will include candidates for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state school superintendent and commissioners of the agriculture, insurance and labor departments.
In addition, there are quite a few local races up for grabs, including two county commission seats each in Catoosa and Dade counties.
But they’ve got to qualify first, which is typically just a formality.
For state-level candidates, that means submitting fees and paperwork at the state Capitol and withstanding any challenges, said Kara Sinkule, a spokeswoman for the secretary of state’s office, which oversees elections.
“Most of the time it’s (someone saying) ‘I don’t believe they live in the district,’” she said about the potential for a challenge.
State-level candidates must pay fees amounting to 3 percent of the position’s salary, or $400 for legislative positions. The most expensive fee, $4,863, is filed when qualifying to run for Congress.
Georgia primary elections are set for July 18, followed by the Nov. 7 general election. Any runoff elections are held three weeks after those dates.
Each of the state legislators representing the Northwest Georgia area are seeking re-election, and there are only two races with announced opposition, one from within an incumbent’s own party.
Catoosa County Democratic Party Chairman Greg Bentley said he wishes there were more candidates, given what he perceives as a potentially good year for Democratic hopefuls.
So far only one Democratic candidate in the region has announced a legislative run: Walker County sheriff’s deputy Bruce Coker hopes to oppose incumbent Republican state Sen. Jeff Mullis.
“We’ve had several good people spark an interest,” Mr. Bentley said. “But for whatever reason, they’ve decided now’s not the time to do it.”
He said last week he was “95 percent” sure a Democratic candidate will emerge this week to run for the state House’s 3rd District.
Two Republicans are facing off for that seat in the primary: incumbent Rep. Ron Forster and former Catoosa County Commission Chairman L.C. Cripps.
E-mail Matthew S.L. Cate at mcate@timesfreepress.com
