District 1 up to 4 vying for spot, District 3 now contested
School board still needs 2 to fill spots for District 3 and District 6
The Board of Elections closed up shop this evening in Cedartown with two more candidates in the race, and contested races across the board for the May 2024 GOP Primary for local and state races.
Commissioner Jordan Hubbard now faces three challengers with the inclusion of former Public Works Director and WZOT commentator Michael Gravett. He joins Hubbard, Deborah Connelly and James Vines on the GOP Primary Ballot for the District 1 seat as of close of business.
Additionally, another challenger has stepped into the County Commission Race. Ray Carter will now face John Paschal, owner of Paschal Lawn Care in Rockmart.
Commissioner Chuck Thaxton is the only one in the County Commission races for the 2024 election cycle without primary competition this round.
The other contested races currently include the Coroner’s race between incumbent Norman Smith and challenger Nathan Womack, the race for Surveyor between Robert Cannon and Nick Rainey, and the District 5 School Board seat being sought by Greg Teems and Jeff Hawkins.
Currently, incumbents have qualified without competition include Sheriff Johnny Moats, Superior Court Clerk Stacie Baines, Magistrate Judge Christy Garner (for Chief Magistrate,) Tax Commissioner Amanda Lindsey, and Probate Judge Bobby Brooks.
District Attorney candidate Jaeson Smith, Superior Court Judges Andrew Roper and Mark Murphy, and State Rep. Trey Kelley and State Sen. Jason Anavitarte have all qualified without opposition for state-level races as well.
District 14 Race
The GOP will face a Democratic challenger in the fall no matter what happens as of Thursday as currently four candidates have stepped up for the May primary for the District 14 U.S. House of Representatives race.
Clarence Blalock of Hiram, Deric Houston of Dallas, Joseph Leigh of Catoosa County and Retired Gen. Shawn Harris are all working to defeat Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in November, but first will face each other in the May primary.
Harris is a Cedartown-area resident.
Greene thus far has no challengers on the GOP ticket in her bid for a third term after he 2020 election.
