Democratic Primary takes place Tuesday
Voters will take to the polls Tuesday for the local Democratic Primary, with two races to be decided and several others heavily impacted.
Voting will be held from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at all 21 precincts across the county, according to Election Administrator Donna Yates.
“We’re expecting a good turnout,” Yates said. “I think there’s a lot of interest in this year’s races.”
There were 1,541 voters who cast ballots during early voting, down about 20 percent from the 2,062 who voted in the last full local Democratic Primary in 1998. However, Yates noted in 1998, the judicial offices including circuit judge, public defender and general sessions judge were all contested in the primary.
This year, two races will be decided including county clerk in which long-time clerk David Smartt is being challenged by fellow Democrat Jeff McGee. The 3rd District County Commission race is also made up entirely of Democrats with incumbents Frank Rice and George Smartt being challenged by newcomers Ken Martin and Richard Myers.
In addition to deciding races, the primary will thin the field in some other races. In the contest for trustee, long-time incumbent Joy Slatton is being challenged by Darlene Bryant and Don Alexander in the primary with the winner to face Emily Panter in the general election. For register of deeds, first-term incumbent Terry Smith is being challenged by Randy England in the primary with the winner to face Susan Curtis in the general election.
In the commission races, there will be three races impacted, in addition to the 3rd District. In the 1st District, Bill Zechman and Sally Brock, incumbents, are being challenged by C.M. Rust. Two candidates advance to the general election.
In the 4th District, incumbent Brad Cantrell will be joined in the primary by Teddy D. Boyd and Bob Turner. In the 7th District, incumbents M.A. Bouldin and Herbert Wright will be challenged by Floyd Bouldin, David Grissom and Jeff Matheney.
According to Yates, voters should be mindful of redistricting this year, which could have them voting at different precincts.
Yates said cards have been sent out advising voters of any changes; however, the election director said about 300 of the cards have been sent back because they were undeliverable. Anyone having any question of where they are voting should contact the election office at 473-5834.
In an item of clarification in the pre-election Sherrill Poll which appeared in Friday’s edition, the graph was in error in the trustee’s race. The graph should have shown Slatton with 48 percent and Bryant with 39 percent.
The text of the story was correct.