Qualifying Leads To Contested Races In Cherokee

ATLANTA, GA -- Incumbents and challengers are lining up to run for political office in Cherokee County. Qualifying is underway for federal, state and local offices, and residents in the county will have no shortage of contested races on the ballot for the May 22 primary and Nov. 6 general elections.

The race to replace retiring Cherokee County Commission Chairman Buzz Ahrens will be a contested battle on the Republican side, with former District 1 Commissioner Harry Johnston tossing his hat in the ring and fellow challenger Stanley Townsend also entering the primary. No Democratic candidate has qualified as of Wednesday morning. District 1 Commissioner Steve West has qualified to seek another four-year term for the seat, which represents the northern half of Cherokee.

Cherokee County District 4 Commissioner Scott Gordon has also announced he will not seek re-election, and at least two challengers have stepped forward to succeed the Woodstock resident. Republicans Steve Divine and Corey Ragsdale have each qualified to run for the seat, which covers the southwest quadrant of Cherokee. Woodstock Planning Commissioner Renee Gable has also indicated she will seek the seat, but has not qualified as of Wednesday.

So far, only one Cherokee County School Board race will be a match up of two candidates. Incumbent Republican Mike Chapman of District 6 will face challenger Scott Phillips. School board members John Harmon of District 3, Rick Steiner of District 4 and Clark Menard of District 5 have also qualified to run for re-election in the Republican primary.

Cherokee County State Court Judge Alan Jordan has qualified to seek another four-year term while Solicitor General of Cherokee County candidates Sarah Hobson and Todd Hayes, both Republicans, have formally entered that race to replace retiring incumbent Jessica Moss.

At the state level, incumbent Republican State Senators Bruce Thomson and Brandon Beach of Alpharetta have qualified for re-election for the District 14 and 21 seats, respectively. State Senator John Albers of District 56, the incumbent Republican, has also qualified for re-election. Democrats Patrick Thompson, Ellyn Jeager and Jim Guess, Jr. are also in the running for the May 22 primary.

Republican State Reps. Michael Caldwell of District 20, Scot Turner of District 21 and Mandi Ballinger of District 23 have qualified and currently face no opposition. The same can't be said for District 22 incumbent Wes Cantrell and John Carson, the incumbent Republican for District 46. Cantrell will face a challenge from Democrat Charles Ravenscraft while Carson have to fight off a bid from Karin Sandiford, who is also a Democrat.

Cherokee County Juvenile Court Judge Tony Baker has qualified to seek the Superior Court seat being vacated by retiring Judge Jackson Harris for the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit.

The 11th Congressional District will see incumbent Republican Barry Loudermilk of Cassville contending with Democrat Flynn Broady Jr. The 11th Congressional District includes Bartow, Cherokee and parts of Cobb and north Fulton County.

Qualifying continues 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 7 and Thursday, March 8 and from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, March 9.

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