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Qualifying for elections begins Wednesday, May 23, at 9 a.m., and ends Friday, May 25, at 12 p.m. Based on the number of candidates who have already announced their intentions to run, Upson County voters will have a wide variety to choose from on Primary Tuesday, July 31.

There are 10 county and four Board of Education seats up for grabs in this election. They are: Clerk of Superior Court, Probate Judge, Sheriff, Tax Commissioner, Chief Magistrate, Coroner, County Surveyor, Commission Chair, District 1 Commissioner, District 2 Commissioner, and Board of Education Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7. To date, there are contested races for at least four of the 14 posts.

Following is a listing, as of today, May 22, 2012, of each post, the qualifying fee, the incumbent, and who, if any, have announced their intention to run. The posts are divided into Primary and Non-Partisan sections. Candidates in Primary races will have to declare as a candidate in a specific political party and a candidate from each party will be chosen on Primary Tuesday, with the General Election on November 5, 2012 deciding the outcome. The winners of Non-Partisan races will be chosen in the Primary Election.

Primary

1. Clerk of Superior Court; Fee - $1,491.65; Incumbent – Teresa Harper.

2. Sheriff; Fee - $1,779.86; Incumbent – Don Peacock; Candidates – Sam Baity, Dan Kilgore, Glenn Collins, Davy Storey, Jeffery Little, and Nason Blackwell

3. Tax Commissioner; Fee - $1,491.65; Incumbent – J. Berry Cook

4. Coroner; Fee - $433.50; Incumbent – James George

5. County Surveyor; Fee - $35; Incumbent – Vacant

6. Commission Chair; Fee - $360; Incumbent – Maurice Raines; Candidates – Maurice Raines

7. Commission District 1; Fee - $270; Incumbent – Christopher Biggs; Candidates: George Carriker and Lorenzo Wilder

8. Commission District 2; Fee - $270; Incumbent – Steve Hudson

Non-Partisan

1. Probate Judge; Fee - $1,491.65; Incumbent – Danielle McRae; Candidates – Danielle McRae, Marc Ellington, Harry J. (Joey) Thiel, and T. Larry Dawson

2. Chief Magistrate; Fee - $1,491.65; Incumbent – Danny Bentley; Candidates – Danny Bentley and Terry Salter

3. Board of Education District 1; Non-Partisan: Fee - $36; Incumbent – Angie McGill

4. Board of Education District 3; Non-Partisan; Fee - $36; Incumbent – Miriam Elsey

5. Board of Education District 5; Non-Partisan; Fee - $36; Incumbent – Leon Fowler

6. Board of Education District 7; Non-Partisan; Fee - $35; Incumbent – Terrell Jackson