Three Circuit Court judge hopefuls were among those who shot out of the starting gate Friday for the May 1 county primary elections.
Friday was the first day to pick up nominating petitions for most county government offices, some school board races and a special judicial election.
Circuit Court Judge Neil Thomas retired Oct. 5, and Gov. Bill Haslam now is considering who will sit on the bench in his place until the August county election when a new judge will be elected.
Three Republican candidates picked up papers Friday for the Division 4 seat: Joe DeGaetano, Kyle E. Hedrick and Catherine “Cate” White.
Also picking up papers for a county mayor campaign was perennial candidate Basil Marceaux.