By Paul Leach
Correspondent
A former county mayor is trying to regain the seat in Polk County’s Aug. 5 general election.
Democrat Hoyt Firestone, who was county mayor from 1986 to 2006, defeated incumbent Mike Stinnett in the May primary and now faces Republican David Dishman.
Local officials are expecting a heavy turnout for early voting, which began Friday and continues through July 31.
“I don’t expect early voting to be as big as it was in the local primary in May, but we’ll have a good turnout,” Polk County Democratic Party Chairwoman Wilma Jean Pippenger said.
In other Polk races:
n Sheriff Bill Davis, a Democrat, faces a challenge from Republican Robert Yates.
n Four candidates are running for three seats in County Commission District 1: The three Democratic incumbents, Mark Bishop, Wendell “Buster” Lewis and John Hoyt Pippenger, and Republican James Woody.
Six people are running for three District 3 seats. The Democrats are James Talley and incumbents Daniel Deal and Daren Waters. The Republicans are James Cearley, Randy Collins and Sheena Gaddis.
EARLY VOTING IN POLK COUNTY* Election Commission Office in Benton, Friday through July 31.Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.* Copper Basin Fire Hall, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Wednesdays through July 31.* In other counties, call the county election commission for polling places and hours.
In the trustee race, incumbent Democrat Patsy Jenkins is challenged by Republican Claudine Dishman.
Republican Shawna C. Mashburn challenges Democrat incumbent Angie Sanford for county clerk.
Polk County Board of Education races are nonpartisan. Four candidates are vying for two seats in District 2: incumbents Harmon C. Harden and Gary Silvers and challengers Tony Price and Shawn Pritchett.
In District 3, incumbent Carlton Deal faces Doug Collins, April “Libby” Trentham and Starr Womble.
The races for County Commission District 2, clerk of courts and school board District 1 are uncontested.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.