by Samantha Sinclair
White County News
Election Day for the General Primary Election is Tuesday.
Many local races will be decided in the Republican Primary as no Democrats qualified to run, although there are still opportunities for write-in candidates for the November General Election.
In early voting, Supervisor of Elections Amie Veater said there were concerns from some voters about the races available on their ballots. Sample consolidated ballots include all races, but for some races, like the county commission seats, only voters who live within the district will be able to vote for one of those candidates.
While early voting continues through 5 p.m. Friday at the Elections Office in the Mauney Building, Election Day voters must head to their assigned precincts on Tuesday.
On Election Day, polling locations open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Blue Creek voters are reminded they will vote in the social hall of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection at 1755 Duncan Bridge Road in Sautee Nacoochee. The change was made prior to the Presidential Preference Primary in March, but elections staff plans to have signs reminding voters of the change at the former polling location, Blue Creek Baptist Church.
Contested county races and candidates on the Republican ballot are:
- Sheriff — Incumbent Rick Kelley and Robert Morin.
- Board of Commissioners Chair — Incumbent Travis Turner and Chris Dorsey.
- Board of Commissioners, District 1 — Incumbent Terry Goodger and Roy “Shan” Ash III.
- Board of Commissioners, District 4 — Incumbent Craig Bryant and Barry Vandiver.
Other local seats and candidates on the Republican ballot are:
- Board of Education Chair — Missy Jarrard.
- Board of Education, District 1 — Jon Estes.
- Board of Education, District 3 — Charlie Thomas.
- Clerk of Superior Court — Dena M. Adams.
- Coroner — Ricky Barrett.
- Probate Judge — Don Ferguson.
- Surveyor — Eddie Hood.
- Tax Commissioner — Cindy Cannon.
On the state level, there’s one contested race — the seat for Georgia House District 8 with Incumbent Stan Gunter and Dick Mills running. Only voters in District 8 will be eligible to vote in this Republican primary race.
Democrats in District 8 will see Charlotte Sleczkowski running for the seat on their ballots.
Other state seats on ballots include:
- U.S. House District 9 — Incumbent Andrew Clyde on the Republican ballot.
- Georgia Senate District 50 — Incumbent Bo Hatchett on the Republican ballot and June Krise on the Democrat ballot.
- Georgia House District 9 — Incumbent Will Wade on the Republican ballot and Tambrei Cash on the Democrat ballot.
There are also 13 nonpartisan judge positions on all ballots.
As of the end of the day Monday, 1,166 people had voted early in person at the elections office. Of the 195 absentee by mail ballots sent out, 116 had been returned as of Monday.