Sand Mountain Reporter | Deadline draws near for 2012 qualifying

Deadline draws near for 2012 qualifying
By Huck Treadwell | Sand Mountain Reporter | January 9, 2012

Any candidate planning on qualifying for 2012 elections has less than a week to get paperwork filed.

DeKalb County Probate Judge Ronnie Osborn said the qualifying deadline is Friday at 5 p.m. for the DeKalb County Primary Election. The primary will be March 13, with an April 24 runoff, if necessary. The General Election will be Nov. 6.

Osborn said all incumbents and all challengers that have publically said they plan to run have filed qualifying paperwork with his office. But, there may be more candidates that qualify in the coming week.

The biggest race on the ballot in DeKalb County will be for DeKalb County Board of Education superintendent. Incumbent Charles Warren announced he will not seek a fourth term in office.

To date, five candidates have qualified for the position Warren is vacating. Hugh Taylor, R-Rainsville; Jason Mayfield, D-Geraldine; Bill Monroe, D-Valley Head; Steve Street, R-Ider; and Ed Burke, D-Sylvania; have all qualified to run for superintendent.

The superintendent's race isn't the only one for the board of education. Places 3 and 4 are up for election in 2012. Incumbent Republican Mary Etta Bailey has qualified and is unopposed for Place 3. Republican incumbent Claude Callaham is being challenged by Matt Sharp, R-Sylvania, for the Place 4 seat.

On the county level, probate judge Ronnie Osborne, R-Collinsville, has qualified and is currently unopposed as is Democratic coroner Tom Wilson. In the only contested county race so far, incumbent DeKalb County circuit clerk Pam Simpson, D, is being opposed by Ben West, R-Sylvania.

The DeKalb County Commission Districts 1 and 2 are on the ballot this year. But, District 1 incumbent Jerome Tinker and District 2 incumbent Ed Nix are currently unchallenged.

Circuit judges David Rains and Randall Cole, both Democrats, have qualified with the state, Osborn said.

In the U.S. Congress race for District 4, incumbent Republican Robert Aderholt has qualified. Rainsville resident and former Geraldine history teacher Rhonda Gore Dennis has announced plans to run for the District 4 seat as a Democrat, but has not yet qualified.