RINGGOLD, Ga. — Election and registration offices throughout Northwest Georgia were busy accepting papers from candidates for local elected offices as qualifying began Monday. The qualifying period ends at noon Friday.

Brisk business during the opening day indicates the expected high level of interest in this year’s elections, from candidates and from voters, officials said.

“This is going to be a big election,” Walker County Election Supervisor Barbara Berry said.

The interest is from both parties, even in Catoosa County, one of the most Republican counties in the state. That does not mean there will be partisan battles in all the races, though.

There will be no Democratic candidates for the Catoosa County Commission chairmanship or District 1 seat, according to Chris Scott, county Democratic Party chairman.

Meanwhile, most Democratic incumbents up for re-election will have no Republican opposition, Catoosa Republican Party Chairman Brad Scott said Monday.

Those include Sheriff Phil Summers, Tax Commissioner Sandra Self, Clerk of Court Norman Stone and Coroner Vanita Hullander. Mr. Summers, Mr. Stone and Mrs. Self qualified Monday.

Others face opposition.

Commission Chairman Bill Clark, a Republican, is expected to qualify today and will have several challengers in the July 15 GOP primary.

Former Fort Oglethorpe Mayor Judd Burkhart and attorney Jeff Wolford qualified Monday as Republican candidates for chairman, and at least one more GOP candidate is expected to seek that post.

Republican Barbara Wilson qualified for the District 1 commission post and a primary challenge to incumbent Commissioner Ken Marks, who said he will seek re-election and will qualify Thursday.

In other races, Republicans qualifying for County Commission District 3 are Jim Cutler and Charles “Bud” Shadwick. Incumbent Commissioner James Emberson has said he will not seek re-election.

Mr. Cutler is with Citadel Broadcasting, and Mr. Shadwick is a retired driver and truck owner.

Catoosa Democratic Party Chairman Chris Scott, no relation to Republican Chairman Brad Scott, said he expects at least one Democratic candidate to qualify for the chief magistrate judge and commission District 3 races.

Chief Magistrate Donald “Sonny” Caldwell qualified for the Republican primary.

Probate Judge Gene Lowery qualified for re-election in the Republican primary. He switched from the Democratic Party and captured the seat in the 2004 election after losing as a Democrat in 2000.

Three Catoosa County Board of Education seats also must be filled this year.

In Walker County, Mrs. Berry said only Democratic candidates submitted paperwork on the first day of qualifying.

Superior Court Clerk Bill McDaniel qualified, as did Jody Green and Debbie Lawrence.

Probate Judge Foye Johnson, Sheriff Steve Wilson and Tax Commissioner Carolyn Walker also qualified.

P.J. Wilson qualified to run for county commissioner.

Commissioner Bebe Heiskell, a Republican, has said she will seek re-election.

Chief Magistrate Judge William “Jerry” Day qualified, as did his Democratic primary adversary, Ross Littlejohn.

Early qualifiers in Whitfield County included former County Commissioner Mike Babb, a Republican, who will be running for County Commission chairman.

Republicans Linda White and Michael Raber qualified for the probate judge race.

Sheriff Scott Chitwood, a Democrat, filed papers, as did Republican Claude Nix Jr., a private investigator, who is vying for Sheriff Chitwood’s job.

Tax Commissioner Danny Sane, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Jim Miller.

In the District 1 School Board race, Republican incumbent Chuck Oliver faces a challenge from Republican Thomas Barton.

Also filing Monday were Coroner Bobbie Dixon, a Democrat, and County Surveyor Joseph Evans, a Republican.

Clerk of Superior Court Melica Kendrick and School Board member Gary Brock are also running to keep their positions.