Seventy-eight names will appear on May primary ballot

Melodie Phelps, News Editor

Monticello — A total of 78 candidates have filed for offices that will appear on the

May primary ballot, including local, state and national races. The filing

deadline for the election was at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26.

While the "filing season" began with a flurry of candidates making their

intentions official, it ended rather quietly. Only three candidates joined

local races on the final day of filing last Tuesday, and all three were

candidates in a populated race for District Two Magistrate.

They included Russell Pyles, Jackie Gibbons, and Jody Dishman, who are

all republicans. They join a large slate of republican candidates‹11

total‹who are seeking their party's nod for the office, which was recently

vacated by the resignation of the late Darrell Dishman.

Republican candidates include: Oren Stinson, Kim Brake, Danny Wallace,

Roger K. Blevins, Doug Acrey, Norman Foster, Barney Tom Denney, Russell

Pyles, Jackie Gibbons, and Jody Dishman.

There are three democratic candidates in that race, including Dishman's

son, Jeffrey Darrell Dishman, who has been appointed to his father's seat;

James Stinson; and Rick Thompson.

All three of the other incumbent magistrates have filed for re-election.

In District One, Danny C. Bell, a democrat, will face opposition from

democratic challenger Shirley Florence Garth. On the republican side of that

ballot will be Allan K. Hopper, Andrew Simpson, and Ronnie Turner.

District Three Magistrate Dale Vaughn will be opposed in the republican

primary by Mark W. Abbott and Ricky D. Worley. There are no democratic

candidates in this district.

District Four Magistrate Richard Lewis Munsey will face Clifton New this

spring in the democratic primary. Only one republican candidate, Troy G.

Neal, has filed in District Four.

There are three candidates in the race for Wayne County Judge-Executive,

including incumbent Greg Rankin, who is unopposed in the primary election.

On the republican side of the slate, State Representative Ken Upchurch

will face former District One Magistrate Jerry Sloan in the May primary.

There are only two candidates for Wayne County Attorney‹Tom Simmons, a

republican, and Lee Whittenburg, a democrat‹which means there will be no

primary race for that office.

Three republican candidates have filed for Wayne County Clerk, including

Janie Turner, Sheridan Wright, and Carrie Germain-Walters. The only

democratic candidate for the position is Josephine Gregory, who is currently

serving as interim Wayne County Clerk.

Wayne County Jailer Ray Upchurch will face opposition from Jerry Guinn

on the republican slate for the office. Danny Baker is the only democratic

candidate for Wayne County Jailer.

In the sheriff's race, incumbent Charlie Boston will face Eric Huffaker

in the democratic primary race. Republican candidates who will vye for their

party's nomination in the sheriff's race in May include David W. Koontz,

Billy M. Burke, and Grady Pyles.

In the District One Constable's race, Robert Riddle, a republican, is

the only candidate.

In the District Two Constable's race, Larry Dean Pyles, Mike Brown,

Bobby Carrender, and Jamie Piercy are vying for the republican nomination.

Bobby Kay Weston is the only democratic candidate in that race.

In the District Three Constable's race, there are three republican

candidates, including Kendall L. Tucker, James Nevels and James Lucian

Morrow. There are no democratic candidates.

In the District Four Constables race, there are three republican

candidates, including Curtis W. Lasley, Tyler G. Huff, and Ed L. Reynolds.

There are no democratic candidates.

There are several races were candidates are unopposed. Bobby R. Upchurch

II, a republican, is the only candidate for Wayne County PVA.

Forrest R. Hicks, a republican, is the only candidate for Wayne County

Coroner.

Donald G. Miller, a republican, is the only candidate for County

Surveyor.

Local attorney Sara Beth Gregory, a republican, is the only candidate

for 52nd District State Representative.

In the 16th District State Senate race, State Senate President David L.

Williams, a republican, will face primary opposition from Denver D. Capps.

Three candidates have filed in the 40th District Judge, Division 1 race.

They include Larry E. Rogers, Scarlett B. Latham, and Athena Cooper.

Current 40th District Judge James M. "Mike" Lawson, who serves in

Division 2, is the only candidate in that race.

Fifth District Congressman Harold Rogers has filed for re-election to

his seat and he will be unopposed in the primary election. Three democratic

candidates have filed for the seat, including James E. "Jim" Holbert, David

Prince, and Kenneth Stepp.

A host of candidates have filed in the U.S. Senate race. Republican

candidates include: C.M. "Trey" Grayson, Bill Johnson, Gurley L. Martin,

Rand Paul, Jon J. Scribner, and John Stephenson.

Democratic candidates in the race include: James Buckmaster, Jack

Conway, Daniel Mongiardo, Darlene F. Price, and Maurice M. Sweeney.

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