March 1 is deadline to qualify
Twenty-nine candidates have qualified in Marion County, and six positions already have contested races with more than two months to go before the qualifying deadline.
Interest has been particularly strong for coroner, District 1 justice court judge, sheriff and District 2 supervisor, which have each drawn four qualifiers through Thursday.
The qualifying deadline is March 1 with the primary elections being held Aug. 6 (potential runoffs Aug. 27) and the general election Nov. 5.
Here’s a look at each position:
Coroner: Longtime Coroner Norma Williamson has announced she will not be running again after more than three decades in office. Four Republicans have qualified so far to replace her: Jessie D. Graham, Alicia Neal Herrington, Ashley Davis Nibert and Carla Thornhill.
Justice Court Judges: For District 1 justice court judge, incumbent Sharon Whitfield is not running again. Candidates include four Republicans so far: David Reed, Henry Sumrall, Carlton Thornhill and Joseph Turney. In District 2, incumbent Justice Court Judge Gwen Broom has qualified to run again.
Constable: In District 1, incumbent Brian Foxworth, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Krae Morgan. District 2 Constable Robbie Gill, a Republican, has not drawn an opponent.
Chancery Clerk: With longtime Chancery Clerk Cass Barnes not seeking re-election, two of his deputy clerks, Joy Daley Baughman and Elisha Prisk Moree, have thrown their hats in the ring.
Sheriff: Incumbent Berkley Hall, a Republican, is seeking a fourth term and will be challenged in the primary by former Columbia Police Chief Mike Cooper and Lance Poirier, a former deputy to Hall now with the city police department. The primary will face Democrat Adrian Fortenberry, a city police officer, in the general election.
Board of Supervisors: Each of the incumbents has qualified to run again. That includes District 1’s Randy Dyess, District 2’s Terry Broome, District 3’s Tony Morgan, District 4’s Raymon (Tater) Rowell and District 5’s Calvin Newsom. Only Broome has drawn an opponent so far, and he has three in the Republican primary: Sylvester Douglas, John Moree and Jimmy Townsend.
Incumbent Circuit Clerk Janette Nolan, Tax Assessor/Collector Teresa Terrell and County Prosecuting Attorney Lawrence Hahn have not drawn opponents.
Qualifying packets are available in the circuit clerk’s office, and independents are required to get signatures. Candidates must file statements of economic interest with the state Ethics Commission and also are required to follow state campaign finance reporting laws.
