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Four county seats are up for election in the upcoming May primary.
White County voters will be deciding a pair of local races in the May primary – one seat each for county commission and school board.
District 2 County Commissioner Lyn Holcomb and District 4 Board of Educator representative Linda Erbele will have contested races in their re-election bids.
Holcomb, who is completing his third term in office, will face a primary challenge fellow Republican Debora Palmer. The winner will meet Democratic candidate Mike DeVincentis in November’s general election.
Holcomb says he has been “blessed and humbled by the people of this county” for the opportunity to serve, adding that he and fellow commissioners have worked well together while seeing a lot of growth and change in the community over the years. He says he would like the chance to continue with ongoing projects, such as additions to the recreation department and development of property the county recently acquired on U.S. 129 North.
“I’d like to see things we got in the works now come to fruition,” says Holcomb, a local business owner.
Palmer, who retired from 911 dispatch operations, says she has been thinking about seeking public office since moving here. She doesn’t feel the commission is reaching out as well as it could to residents like her and that some things are changing too quickly and others not fast enough.
“I’d like to work to make sure more of White County knows what’s going on,” she says.
DeVincentis, owner of SurePoint IT Solutions, says he feels now is the time to run for office after previously being encouraged to do so.
“This has been something I’ve wanted to pursue for a very long time,” he says.
“A lot of people see a need for new people [on the commission], new ideas and a new way of looking at things.”
District 2 includes the southeastern portion of the county including the Mossy Creek and White Creek communities.
Three candidates are running as Republicans for the District 4 seat on the White County Board of Education.
Erbele, the incumbent, is a freelance writer completing her first term on the Board.
“I’d like to continue the good work our Board has done making our school system one of the best school systems in the state,” she says.
Erbele notes that during her time in office the school board has increased the system’s fund balance, implemented two free pre-k classes and taken steps to improve student mental health, especially during the difficult time of COVID-19.
In vying for another term, she says she wants to make sure “teachers, students and citizens of White County are well represented and parents are encouraged to have a say in the education of their kids.”
King, an office manager and former substitute teacher, said he felt compelled to run for school board after hearing concerns from educators, parents and citizens.
“If elected to serve on the Board of Education, it is my utmost goal to rebuild the trust in our education system that many concerned citizens have understandably lost in recent months, to foster a high level of transparency amongst all school officials to the general public, to ensure all voices within our community are heard and receive input on all school issues and to promote an environment of support for the many truly great educators here in White County.”
Laurin Terry, an accounts payable manager for Simco Interiors, says she is running with a focus on the well-being of children. She adds that she has three daughters of her own and wants to be more involved in the community and the school system that educates them.
Terry says she understands the responsibility of the post in “making decisions that will affect not only my children, but others in the community.”
The school board’s District 4 includes most of the northern county that includes Helen and Sautee Nacoochee, as well as an eastern portion including the Blue Creek community. Unlike county commission seats that are limited to voters in the district, all school board elections are open to voters countywide.
Uncontested races
Some local and area incumbents will be heading to another term beginning in 2023 after no other candidates emerged during last week’s qualifying period.
That includes District 3 County Commissioner Edwin Nix, who has currently served since 2011, with a previous stint as commissioner from 1999-2002.
Board of Education District 2 incumbent John Solmon is also unchallenged. He is completing his first term in office after being elected in 2018.
In elections for the Enotah Judicial Circuit, District Attorney Jeff Langley, Chief Superior Court Judge Raymond George and Superior Court Judge Buck Levins were also unopposed.
State legislature races
Three of White County’s four seats in the Georgia General Assembly are being contested this year.
Newly redistricted maps approved this year using 2020 Census population date have the county split between State Senate districts 50 and 51 and State House districts 9 and 10.
State Senate District 50 incumbent Bo Hatchett of Habersham County was the lone Republican to qualify. He will be challenged in the November general election by Paulette Williams, a Democrat from Rabun County.
State Sen. Steve Gooch, a Republican representing District 51, was unopposed.
District 8 State Rep. Stan Gunter, a Republican from Union County, will be in a race with Democratic challenger June Krise of White County.
District 9 State Rep. Will Wade of Dawson County will have competition in the Republican primary from Tyler Tolin.
U.S. Senate and House
Georgia U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, will be challenged by the winner of a Republican primary field that includes Gary Black, Josh Clark, Jon McColumn, Latham Saddler and Herschel Walker.
U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde, who represents Georgia’s 9th Congressional District, will contend with fellow Republicans Michael Boggus, J. Gregory Howard, John London and Ben Souther. The primary winner will square off with Democrat Mike Ford.