Qualifying Produces Contested Races In Cherokee County

CANTON, GA — Qualifying has come to an end for Cherokee 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 several local and state races on the ballot will be up for grabs 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).

Republicans Harry Johnston and Stanley Townsend will face off in the May 22 primary to become the next Cherokee County Commission chairman. District 1 Commissioner Steve West will face no opposition while the District 4 seat will be a May 22 Republican contest between Steve Divine and Corey Ragsdale.

For the Cherokee County School Board, Clark Menard of District 5 and John Harmon of District 3 will face no opposition. The District 4 seat held by incumbent Republican Rick Steiner will be contested by longtime PTA advocate Donna Kosicki, a Republican, while the District 6 post held by Republican Mike Chapman will include challenger Scott Phillips, another Republican.

Cherokee County State Court Judge Alan Jordan faces no opposition in his re-election bid, and Republicans Todd Hayes and Sarah Hobson will battle in the May 22 primary to replace retiring Solicitor General of Cherokee County Jessica Moss.

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. He will be challenged by Canton attorney Benson Chambers.

At the state level, incumbent Republican State Senator Bruce Thompson of District 14 will be challenged in November by Democrat Rachel Kinsey while District 21 incumbent Republican Brandon Beach will face off against Democratic candidate Nicole Nash in November. 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 to challenge the Roswell resident in the Nov. 6 election.

For the State House District 20 race, incumbent Republican Michael Caldwell of Woodstock will be challenged in November by Democrat Lillian Burnaman while Republican State Rep. Scot Turner of District 21 will face Melanie Whitfield, a Democrat, in the general election.

Incumbents Wes Cantrell of District 22, Mandi Ballinger of District 22 and John Carson of District 46 all face Democratic opposition in the Nov. 6 general election. Cantrell, of Woodstock, will battle Charles Ravescraft while Ballinger, of Canton, will contend with Adam Wynn. Carson will face off against Karin Sandiford.

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 for the May 22 primary is April 24 while the deadline for the Nov. 6 election will be Oct. 9. Early voting will begin April 30 and runs through May 18 in Cherokee County. Residents can cast ballots at the Cherokee County Elections & Registration Office at 400 E. Main Street from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 30 through May 4 and May 7-11.

Saturday voting will be held May 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the elections office and at the Ball Ground, Hickory Flat, Rose Creek and Woodstock public libraries. Advance voting opens May 14-18 at the elections office and will expand to the aforementioned libraries.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 22 and voters must cast ballots at their assigned precinct. If you need that information, contact the elections office at 770-479-0407 or visit http://voter.cherokeega.com/.

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