Candidate Qualifying Complete

The final list of candidates for county, state, and federal races is in.

Candidate qualifying ended Friday at noon.

Stephens County has a number of contested races after a host of candidates qualified Friday morning.

First, five people are running as Republicans for the Post 2 seat on the Stephens County Commission.

Challenging incumbent Debbie Whitlock are former Stephens County Commissioner Jonesy Haygood, farmer Henry Moore, maintenance supervisor Kenny Yearwood, and a planning and zoning administrator, Larry Krul.

Republican incumbent Dennis Bell is running unopposed for the Post 3 seat on the Stephens County Commission.

Moving to the Stephens County Board of Education, broiler supervisor Len Stovall will challenge incumbent Tony Crunkleton for the at-large seat on the board. Both are running as Republicans.

Also, cattle farmer Mark Smith will run as a Republican challenger to the Republican incumbent Jim Ledford for the District 3, Post 2 seat on the Stephens County Board of Education.

Running unopposed for the District 1, Post 1 seat on the Stephens County Board of Education is Republican accountant Wendy Rice Dawkins. That is an open seat following the resignation earlier this year of Dr. Elizabeth Pinkerton.

Elsewhere, Republican sheriff’s deputy Jim Davis will challenge Republican incumbent Randy Shirley for the position of Stephens County Sheriff.

Also, Ralph Stowe is challenging incumbent Don Tabor for the non-partisan post of Stephens County Chief Magistrate.

The final contested county race is that of State Court Solicitor as Republican attorney Ann Pickett will challenge Democratic incumbent Willie Woodruff, Jr. They are unopposed in the primary so this race will not be decided until November.

A host of other incumbents qualified for their offices and have no opposition. They include Clerk of Court Tim Quick, Coroner Chris Stephens, Probate Judge Glenda Ernest, Tax Commissioner Dene Hicks, and State Court Judge James Irvin.

Moving to the state level, 50th District Republican State Senator John Wilkinson will face Republican opposition for that seat from Roy Benifield of Martin.

28th District State Representative Dan Gasaway is running unopposed for re-election to that seat as a Republican.

Attorney Bruce Russell, Jr. is running against George Christian for the post of Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney. Christian was appointed to the D.A. post after Brian Rickman moved on to a judicial appointment.

Both are running as Republicans.

Running unopposed for the non-partisan post of Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge is incumbent Chan Caudell.

Finally at the federal level, it is a five-man race for the 9th District U.S. House seat that represents Stephens County, with all of them running as Republicans.

Challenging incumbent Doug Collins are former U.S. Representative Paul Broun, Bernie Fontaine of Suches, Mike Scupin of Cumming, and Roger Fitzpatrick of Cleveland.