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Qualifying opens for June 3 primary races
The Democratic and Republican primaries are June 3 with any necessary runoffs on July 15. The general election will be Nov. 4. Clarke County Republicans met the previous week to open qualifying. Local offices on the ballot this year, and the Democratic qualifying fees were detailed. The qualifying fees are based on 2 percent of the offices' salaries. County Party Secretary Patricia DuBose, who is also a Clarke County commissioner, detailed the offices: Superintendent of education, $1,800; Revenue commissioner, $1,257; License commissioner, $1,072; Board of Education, Districts 1, 2 and 5, $144 each; Clarke County Commission, Districts 2, 4 and 5, $396 each. The office of Clarke County District Judge is also on the ballot but the position is a state office and candidates qualifying with the State Democratic Party. The qualifying fee is $2,297.85. Qualifying continues through April 4 at 5 p.m. and Democratic candidates may qualify with Lee B. Williams, the county Democratic chairman, at his Grove Hill law office. Superintendent of Education Gerald Stephens announced that he is seeking a fifth term. District Judge Bill Kimbrough said he is running for re-election. He promised everyone a "fair hearing. I may have to rule against you but I'll feel bad about it," he quipped. District 2 Commissioner Paul Bradford said he is seeking a third term. He said he was proud of the way the county is working together for progress and economic growth. District 5 Commissioner Rhondel Rhone echoed Bradford, saying the county has learned, "a divided house cannot stand." He said "we are in exciting times" due to economic growth for the region and said the county must continue to work together. Rhone noted that he is serving as president of the state county commissioners' association. Rhone, the longest serving commissioner, is seeking a fifth term. License Commissioner Linda Goodman said she will be seeking a second term, noting she has worked in the office for 20 years and seen many changes. She said she has an open door policy and always listens to constituents' concerns. Marty Parker, the incumbent District 1 school board member, said he is a candidate for a full term. Parker was appointed to the board when Gina Fleming moved out of the district. Parker said he enjoys working for the area's most valuable resource, "our kids" and said they must be educated for the job opportunities that are being created in the county and region. Charlie Anderson and Clint Hawkins, District 2 and District 5 school board members respectively, whose positions are on the ballot this year, were not present. Terri Tidwell of Gainestown, a member of the County Democratic Executive Committee, told the group that she will be a candidate for the District 4 seat on the County Commission. She cited experiences she believed would be helpful in the office and said "without a strong team of five [commissioners], we cannot accomplish" what needs to be done. Tidwell owns and operates the Nail Studio in downtown Jackson. District 4 Commissioner Joe Hunt was not at the meeting but has said he is seeking reelection. Revenue Commissioner Chris Beverly, appointed to the post when Jay Duke moved to become circuit clerk a year ago, was also not present. A spokesperson for Ben Lodmell of Mobile, who has said he is a Democratic candidate for the First Congressional District seat, said Lodmell is still a candidate. He was arrested several weeks ago for soliciting a prostitute in Baldwin County but the spokesperson reminded the crowd he is "innocent until proven guilty." Lynda Malone, vice chairman for the group, was elected a First Congressional District female delegate to the Democratic National Convention slated in Denver, Colorado in August. She is pledged to Hillary Clinton. This will be her fourth presidential convention to attend. She explained that Barack Obama won 10 of the state's delegates in the Feb. 5 balloting and Clinton won eight. Upon questioning, she explained that the delegates are not bound to the candidates they originally pledged to. Add to that the superdelegates (officeholders who are delegates by virtue of their positions) who are not pledged and she predicted "a fight to the end" in Denver due to the tight race between Obama and Clinton. The county committee is composed of 40 members. Nominated for vacancies on the committee were Dr. Ozell Hubert, Johnny Byrd, State Rep. Marc Keahey, Willie Williams and Bonita Stallworth. Committee members were asked to remember longtime committee member J. W. Andrews who is elderly and former officeholders Judge Harold Crow and Coroner Royce "Teacake" McVay. Crow has had heart surgery and McVay recently had a leg amputation due to diabetes. ****** Candidates are reminded that this newspaper will run an announcement news story on their candidacies through the April 10 edition (the paper after qualifying ends on April 4). After that, announcements will be charged as advertising. The policy is in effect so as to be fair to everyone and so that no candidate will have a news announcement running too close to voting day. Qualifying until April 4 Democrat and Republican candidates can qualify through April 4 for offices on the June 3 primary ballots.
Democrats can qualify with Lee B. Williams, local party chairman, at his Grove Hill law office and Republicans can sign up with GOP Chairman Edmon McKinley at his Thomasville law office.
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