Qualifying for state and county posts won’t end until noon Friday, but a number of candidates threw their hats into the ring on Monday, including two challengers for County Commission posts.
The following candidates will be on the July 15 general primary ballot. Incumbent Commissioner Gail Robinson will face a challenge on the Republican ballot from Dave Wittenberg for Post 3. Robinson, a Warner Robins attorney is seeking her third term. Wittenberg, a local businessman who has been an outspoken advocate of impact fees, will also run for the Post 3 Republican nomination.
Tom Williams of Bonaire, owner of Houston Garden and Hardware, will run for Post 5 on the Commission, challenging longtime incumbent Tom McMichael. McMichael who will be seeking a fourth term, said on Tuesday that he was on his way back from Savannah to sign up. They will be running in the Republican primary.
Commissioner Larry Thomson, Post 4, has qualified to seek re-election as a Republican, and at press time had no competition. County Commission Chairman Ned Sanders and Post 2 Commissioner Jay Walker are in the middle of their four year terms and not facing re-election this year. While Commissioners hold numbered posts, their elections are countywide.
Announcing for other county posts were Republican incumbents Sheriff Cullen Talton, Tax Commissioner Mark Kushinka, Probate Judge Janice Spires and Coroner Danny Galpin.
Talton is seeking his 10th term, having first been elected in 1972. Carolyn Sullivan, Clerk of the Houston County Superior Court, will run on the Democratic ballot for re-election.
State office holders qualifying to seek re-election on Monday at the state capitol were State Sen. Ross Tolleson, District 20; Rep. Tony Sellier, District 136; Rep. Larry O’Neal, District 146, and Rep. Willie Talton, District 145., and Houston Circuit District Attorney Kelly Burke.
Qualifying to run for party nominations in the primary election is under way now for both parties and will close at noon Friday. Positions open in Houston County are Judge of Probate Court, Clerk of Probate Court, Sheriff, Tax Commissioner, Coroner, and County Commissioner the Superior Court and County Commission posts 3, 4 and 5.
The winning Republican and Democratic candidates will square off in November.
Houston County Republican Party Chairman Aaron Hufstetler said that qualifying for Republican candidates will be at the law offices of O’Neal, Long and Hall at 311 Margie Drive, in Warner Robins. For more information contact Huftstetler at 929-0034 or 397-2889, or by email at hocogop@bellsouth.net.
Qualifying for the Democratic primary is taking place at the Houston County Board of Elections, which is in the Houston County Government Building (the old courthouse) on Carroll Street in downtown Perry during business hours. Candidates for state or federal positions qualify in Atlanta.
