Anderson County primary deadline Thursday at noon

Information from WYSH Radio

The deadline to qualify as a candidate in any of the races on the ballot for Anderson County’s May 6 primaries is at noon Thursday.

Here is a look at who has qualified so far:

• So far, only incumbent Judge Don Elledge has qualified to run for his seat as criminal and circuit judge.
• Five people have qualified to run in the hotly-contested Juvenile Court judge primaries. Two Democrats—J. Michael Clement and David Dunkirk—are seeking the nomination, while three Republicans—Victoria Bannach, Lauren Biloski, and Brian Hunt—have qualified to seek their party’s nod to run for the seat in the August general election.
• Brandon Fisher, the current Juvenile Court judge, had qualified to run for the Democratic nomination for chancellor, a seat coming open due to the retirement of William Lantrip, but he announced just a couple of weeks ago that he will be dropping out of the race to join a company in Pennsylvania. On the Republican side, Mike Farley and Phil Harber have qualified to appear on the May ballot.
• Democrats Dave Clark, the district attorney general, and Tom Marshall, the county’s public defender, are both unopposed in May and are also unopposed so far in the August general election.
• Incumbent County Mayor Terry Frank has qualified to seek the Republican nomination for the office she was first elected to two years ago, and she will face a challenger in the May primary from County Commissioner Zach Bates.
• Incumbent General Sessions Division I Judge Don Layton is unopposed in the Republican primary, while Ryan Spitzer has qualified to run on the Democratic side.
• Incumbent General Sessions Division II Judge Ron Murch is unopposed so far in the Democratic primary.
• Current interim Circuit Court Clerk Tyler Mayes is unopposed in the Democratic primary and will face unopposed Republican William Jones in the general election, barring any last-minute additions to the ballot.
• Incumbent Trustee Rodney Archer is unopposed in the Democratic Primary as are incumbent County Clerk Jeff Cole and incumbent Register of Deeds Tim Shelton. But Shelton could face opposition in August as Bill Gallaher has qualified to run on the Republican side.
• Incumbent Road Superintendent Gary Long is unopposed in the Republican primary.
• Incumbent Sheriff Paul White is unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Republicans Anthony Lay and Randy Myers will square off in the Republican primary.

Again, the deadline to qualify for the May primaries is noon on Thursday, Feb. 20, and the Anderson County Election Commission will post the finalized list of entries shortly after that deadline passes at www.acelect.com.

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