Qualifying Produces Contested Elections In Bartow County

CARTERSVILLE, GA — Qualifying has come to an end for Bartow County candidates looking to make their mark at the local, state and federal level, and there will be no shortage of contested races on the ballot this year.

The qualifying period ended at noon Friday, March 9, and three of the local races on the ballot will be up for grab either for the May 22 general primary or the Nov. 6 general election (For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here).

The race for the Bartow County School Board District 1 seat will be contested in the primary as well as the general election. Incumbent John Howard will face Republican challenger Tony Ross in the May 22 race. The Republican candidate who wins the primary will face Democrat Larry Slocum in the Nov. 6 election. The District 2 race will also be contested in the May 22 Republican primary, with incumbent Davis Nelson fending off a challenging from Terry Lee Eggert. District 3 incumbent Derek Keeney, a Republican, will face Democratic challenger Willie Coombs in the Nov. 6 general election.

In the Georgia Senate, incumbent Bruce Thompson (R-White) of District 14 will face Democrat Rachel Kinsey in November while incumbent Republican Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome) will be challenged by Democratic contender Evan Ross for the Senate District 52 seat (For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here).

For the Georgia House of Representatives, incumbent Republican Christian Coomer of Cartersville has also qualified to run for re-election to the District 14 and faces no opposition. Matthew Gambill and Allan Levene, both Republicans from Bartow County, will seek the District 15 seat. Incumbent Rep. Paul Battles will not seek re-election.

Incumbent Judge G. Carey Nelson also qualified for the Cherokee Judicial Circuit Superior Court seat, which covers Bartow and Gordon counties, and will run opposed. Fellow incumbents Judge David K. Smith and Judge D. Scott Smith will also seek their Cherokee Judicial Circuit Superior Court seats without opposition.

For the 11th Congressional District race, incumbent U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Cassville) will be challenged by Democrat Flynn Broady, Jr. in the Nov. 6 election. The 11th Congressional District encompasses Bartow, Cherokee and parts of Cobb and north Fulton counties.

The deadline to register to vote in the May 22 primary is April 24 while the deadline for the November election is Oct. 9. Early voting dates and times will be forthcoming.

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