Local Candidates to Qualify for Primary 

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY FOR CANDIDATES TO QUALIFY FOR THE 2008 PRIMARY ELECTION IN CHATTOOGA COUNTY.  THE QUALIFYING PERIOD WILL RUN FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK.  SEVERAL CANDIDATES HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTIONS TO RUN FOR VARIOUS POLITICAL OFFICES IN THE COUNTY.  IN THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RACE THERE ARE FOUR ANNOUCNED CANDIDATES:  INCUMBENT MIKE DAWSON, JASON WINTERS, BLAKE JONES AND JOE REED.  WITH MORE THAN TWO CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE SOLE COMMISSIONERS SEAT, A RUN-OFF ELECTION MAY BE NECESSARY IF NONE OF THE FOUR ANNOUNCED CANDIDATES GARNER OVER 50% OF THE VOTE.  GEORGIA IS ONE OF THE FEW STATES IN THE NATION THAT HAS RUN-OFF ELECTIONS.  THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL CANDIDATES WHO HAVE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO QUALIFY FOR THE OFFICE OF SHERIFF; INCUMBENT RALPH KELLETT, AUBRY “SMITTY” SMITH AND JOHN EVERETT.  TWO CANDIDATES, INCUMBENT KATHY VANPELT BROWN AND LAMAR CANADA, HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTIONS TO SEEK THE POST OF TAX COMMISSIONER.  ALL THE CANDIDATES THAT HAVE MADE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS REGARDING THEIR INTENTIONS TO RUN FOR OFFICE HAVE STATED THAT THEY WILL RUN AS DEMOCRATS.  NO REPUBLICANS HAVE TOLD LOCAL REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN BRAD HAYES ABOUT ANY INTENTIONS TO RUN FOR OFFICE. PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON JULY 15TH WITH ANY RUNOFF ELECTION SLATED FOR AUGUST 5TH.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN GEORGIA LINK TO THE GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATES WEB PAGE.www.sos.georgia.gov/