By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Qualifying was brisk in the first two days at the Fayette County Board of Elections and with local political parties, with most incumbents signing to run for reelection.

Eighteen local posts will be filled in the General Election this November, and 13 incumbents had qualified as of noon Tuesday.

Qualifying runs through noon Friday.

Incumbents qualifying thus far include Sheriff Randall Johnson, Superior Court clerk Bud Ballard, magistrate judges Joe Tinsley, Kenneth Melear, Grady Huddleston and James White, State Court Judge Fletcher Sams,
State Court solicitor Steve Harris, Board of Education Post 3 member Connie Hale, coroner C.J. Mowell, Post 3 county Commissioner Harold Bost, Post 2 Commissioner Herb Frady, Probate Judge Martha Stephenson and tax Commissioner George Wingo.

Incumbents who have announced that they will not run include Post 1 county Commissioner Glen Gosa and Post 2 school board member Woody Shelnutt.

Also qualifying for school board are Don Apking, Kevin Demmitt and Terri Smith, all for Post 2, and Janet Smola, for Post 1. Board Chairman Debbie Condon of Post 1 had not qualified as of Tuesday and has not announced her intentions.

For County Commission, A.G. VanLandingham and Frank Oakley have qualified for Post 1.

In addition to the local races, Fayette residents will help elect four representatives to the state House and Senate, plus three judges and the district attorney in the Griffin Judicial Circuit.

As of mid-day Tuesday, three of the four incumbents in the county's legislative delegation had qualified for reelection: 105th District Rep. Kathy Cox, 104 District Rep. Lynn Westmoreland and 28th District Sen. Rick Price. All three are Republicans.

Greg Hecht, Democratic state senator from the 34th District, had not qualified as of Tuesday. Republican Bryan Hilton of Lithia Springs has qualified for the 34th District post.

The Griffin Superior Court Circuit's three judges all have qualified: Paschal A. English Jr., Ben J. Miller and Johnnie Caldwell. English and Miller thus far have no opposition, but Fayette lawyer John Mrosek has qualified to run for Caldwell's seat.

District attorney Bill McBroom has qualified, thus far without opposition.

Mac Collins, who represents Fayette and several other counties in the U.S. Congress, also has qualified, thus far without opposition.