By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | So you’re thinking with the presidential voting Tuesday we are done with politics for a while? Well, it’s merely the opening of the season, as soon the local campaigns will be all around us.
Qualifying for local and state offices begins for both the state Republican and Democrat Parties on March 7, with March 11 being the last date a candidate can qualify to run for office in Georgia. The actual primary voting date for these offices will be May 24.
If you want to run as an independent on the General Election ballot, the earliest date you can file your candidacy is June 27, with the closing by noon July 12. Voting in the General election is on November 8, for local, state and national offices.
So, by the end of next week, we’ll know who the local candidates are.
These offices are open in Georgia and Gwinnett, and there are a lot of them:
- U.S. Senator: Senator Johnny Isakson’s term expires this year.
- Three U.S. Representatives: Currently Hank Johnson, Rob Woodall and Jody Hice represent Gwinnett.
- Nine statewide offices, from governor to Public Service Commissioner.
- Seven Senators, representing all or parts of Gwinnett.
- State Representative: 18 offices. At least three incumbents have said that they would not run for office again.
- County officials: District Attorney, Probate Court Judge, Clerk of Superior Court, Tax Commissioner, Sheriff, Chief Magistrate.
- County Commissioners: Up for re-election will be Chairman Charlotte Nash, Jace Brooks and Tommy Hunter.
- Board of Education: Members Carole Boyce, Dr. Mary Kay Murphy and Louise Radloff are up for re-election.
- State Court judges: Four (of six) terms expire this year: Emily Brantley, Shawn Bratton, Carla Brown and John Doran.
- Superior Court: Six (of ten) terms expire this year: Kathy Schrader, Randy Rich, Karen Beyers, Ronnie Batchelor, Melodie Snell Conner and Warren Davis.
Whew! That’s a ton of candidates! A total of 60 candidates! It’s going to be a banner year for Gwinnett citizens to review a lot of backgrounds to determine who is best for many a political office. We would bet at least half the candidates draw opposition.
Again this year, GwinnettForum will issue invitations to all challenged candidates to spend 30 minutes with them to get to know them, and to offer them space in this publication to present their unedited 100 word views on their candidacy, at no cost to any candidate. That means with this many offices open, that we will be seeing (we hope) lots of candidates this year. Afterward, we’ll endorse those we think will be best for the individual offices.
And with the presidential election, it’ll be a busy and we hope productive year.
* * * * *
Along this line of thought, lo and behold: the Gwinnett Democrats are beginning to stir. There is a Women In Politics fundraiser by Gwinnett County Young Democrats on Saturday, March 12 at Cornerstone Coworking, 279 West Crogan Street, in Lawrenceville.
* * * * *
There’s about one more week of Standard Time: in 2016, Daylight Saving Time begins in the United States on Sunday, March 13.
But if you are flying to Europe, their “Summer Time” doesn’t begin until Sunday, March 27. During those two weeks, time zone differences between most of the States and Europe will be one hour less than usual. Remember for Daylight Saving Time, clocks are turned forward one hour. Thanks to Larry Zani of Kaiserslauten, Germany, for this reminder.
Follow Us