By Matt Anderson
Staff Writer
DALTON, Ga. The political season is officially under way, and candidates seeking their party's nominations for the July 18 Democratic and Republican primaries began filing qualifying papers at the Whitfield County City Park Annex on Monday.
Candidates have until noon Friday to establish their candidacy, and the picturewas similar in county seats across Georgia.
In Whitfield County, posts that will appear on the primary ballots and the Nov. 7 general election ballot are two seats on the Whitfield County Commission, three seats on the Whitfield County Board of Education and a special election for clerk of Superior Court, according to Rhonda Franks, a Whitfield County election technician.
As of 3 p.m. Monday, two Republicans had filed for the school board races, one Republican had filed for Superior Court clerk and one Democrat had filed for a County Commission race.
Everyone waits until Friday, Whitfield County Democratic Party Chairman Gandi Vaughn said. Either they're here at 9 a.m. Monday to let everyone know they're running, or they wait until the last minute to find out who else is running.
Commission seats up for election this year are the District 1 seat held by Mike Cowan and the District 3 seat held by Odell Cochran. Mr. Cochran said he will run again, but Mr. Cowan did not return calls for comment Monday.
I've decided maybe I can go four more years, Mr. Cochran said.
The Board of Education contests are in Districts 2 and 4 and for an at-large post.
Tim Trew represents District 2, Jerry Neely represents District 4 and Holly Ridley holds an at-large seat, Mrs. Franks said.
Whitfield County Clerk of Superior Court Betty Nelson resigned last year, citing health reasons, according to Earl Ball, a Whitfield County Republican Party volunteer.
All candidates must be U.S. citizens, Georgia residents and registered voters.
Candidates for Board of Commissioners must have lived in the county at least 12 months before election day, be at least 21 and live in the district they wish to represent.
Candidates for Board of Education must have lived in the county at least 12 months before election day, live in the district they wish to represent and may not serve on other boards of education or work for an educational institution.
Candidates for clerk of Superior Court must have lived in the county two years before election day, must be at least 25, have a high school diploma and no felony convictions.
E-mail Matt Anderson at manderson@timesfreepress.com
