TJ Times-Journal | Average Turnout Expected for Primaries

Average Turnout Expected for Primaries
By Huck Treadwell | TJ Times-Journal | March 6, 2012

When the polls open Tuesday, DeKalb County’s probate judge expects an average voter turnout.

Though the election is mostly billed as a Republican presidential primary, Probate Judge Ronnie Osborn said local races will attract the most voters. He said the race for DeKalb County Board of Education superintendent would draw most voters to the polls.

“I don’t expect a big turnout,” Osborn said. “The county and Alabama aren’t getting into the presidential election like the rest of the country. The biggest turnout will be for the superintendent’s race. We have five good candidates.”

Polls for DeKalb County’s 48 precincts will open Tuesday at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Osborn said the deadline for absentee ballots would be at noon on election day.

“We’ll make a run to the post office at noon,” he said. “Any ballots that come in after that won’t be counted.”

Osborne said the deadline to request an absentee ballot for the primary is Thursday. That gives time for the probate judge’s office to mail the ballot and for the voter to return or mail in the ballot before the noon deadline on Tuesday, he said.

Osborn said he expected the Democratic race for superintendent to end in a runoff.

“There are three good candidates in that election,” Osborn said. “I don’t see one of them getting more than 50 percent of the vote. But, you never know.”

For the position of DeKalb County schools superintendent, Hugh Taylor and Steve Street are running on the Republican ticket and Jason Mayfield, Bill Monroe and Ed Burke are vying for the Democrat nomination.

There are two DeKalb school board races that will be decided Tuesday. Republican incumbent Mary Etta Bailey is running against GOP challenger Jeff Williams for DeKalb County Board of Education, Place 3.

Republican incumbent Claude Callaham is running against Republican challenger Matt Sharp for DeKalb County Board of Education, Place 4.

For the position of U.S. House, District 4, Republican incumbent Robert Aderholt is running as the only Republican, however, Democratic candidates Rick Neighbors and Daniel H. Bowman will face off in the primary to determine who will run against Aderholt in the General Election in November.

There are no statewide races on the Democrat ballot.

A handful of statewide races will appear on the Republican primary ballot Tuesday.

GOP hopefuls Chip Brown, Twinkle Cavanaugh and Kathy Peterson are vying for state Public Service Commission president.

Charlie Graddick, Chuck Malone and Roy Moore are running for the Republican nomination in the state Supreme Court chief justice race.

For the Republican nomination for place 1 on the state Supreme Court, Tommy Bryan will face Debra Jones.

In November, several DeKalb races will be decided.

Democrat incumbent Pam Simpson and Republican Ben West are running for DeKalb circuit clerk.

Democrat incumbent David Rains and Republican Shaunathan Bell are running for DeKalb circuit judge.

For DeKalb County Commission, District 1, Democrat incumbent Jerome Tinker is running against Republican candidate Shane Wootten.

In the DeKalb County Commission, District 2 race, Democratic incumbent Ed Nix is running against Republican candidate Derek Caldwell.

The District 1 constable race will be between Democrat George Roberts and Republican Kneely Pack; District 2 is between Democrat Dave Austin and Republican Scott David Westbrook; District 3 is unopposed with Republican Jimmy Carter qualified and District 4 is unopposed with Democrat Grant Johnson qualified.

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