110 Cast Ballot In 1st Day Of Presidential Primary Early Voting

A total of 110 voters cast a ballot Monday in the first day of early voting for the March 24 Presidential Primary, with 54 of them using the Democratic ballot and 56 using the Republican ballot.

Eleven candidates filed their paperwork Monday to qualify for county offices, all but one of them as a Republican. Monday was the first day to qualify for local and state offices.

Both Maria Caudill and incumbent Mark Saxon filed for Post 4 of the Board of Commissioners, guaranteeing at least one contest in the county for the May 19 party primaries.

George Roberts filed for the nonpartisan Probate Court Judgeship. That election also will be held on May 19.

Mokah Jasmine Johnson filed as a Democrat for the Georgia House District 117 seat now held by Republican Houston Gaines. Gaines did not file his paperwork Monday. Qualifying closes at noon on Friday.

In the 119th House District, Jonathan Wallace also filed Monday, as did incumbent Republican Marcus Wiedower. Wallace filed as a Democrat, likely setting up a rematch in November of the 2018 race between them. Both could have challengers in the party primaries.

Incumbent Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert qualified in Senate District 46, as did Democrat Zachary Perry.

All of Oconee County falls in Senate District 46, while House District 117 includes Athens Academy, Bogart and Marswood Hall (formerly called Malcom Bridge) precincts, and House District 119 includes the remaining nine precincts in Oconee County.

For details of this summary, please go to Oconee County Observations.