Candidate list a ‘go’ for August election

Candidates vying for seats in the August election were approved by the Weakley County Election Commission last week.
The Weakley County Commission accepted the resignation of District 1 commissioner Andy Holt last month, leaving his slot vacant. Holt, who also serves as District 76 state representative, stepped down from his elected post on the county board to devote more time to his state House seat.
Commissioners approved James Bynum to fill the slot until election. Weakley County Administrator of Elections Barbara Castleman said because the qualifying deadline for the Republican and Democratic primaries had passed, candidates seeking the District 1 slot had to file as independents.
Four people chose to file as independents and have qualified to seek election during the Aug. 2 County General Election.
The candidates include Bynum, Bobby Dunlap, David Laws and Michael J. Simmons.
Odd numbered district school board seats will also be listed on the August ballot. School board candidates seek office as independents. Voters will be asked to choose one candidate on the ballot for each district.
Candidates qualifying for school board seats include Gath Meeks (District 1), John H. Liggett (District 3), Bruce McCartney (District 3), Kimberly Longacre (District 5), Doug Sims (District 7), and Sarah Ann Pentecost (District 9).
Meeks, Sims and Pentecost are incumbents.
The race for the District 76 House of Representatives seat will look similar to the 2010 election as Democrat Mark Maddox seeks to take the seat he once held from incumbent Republican Holt.
Holt defeated Maddox in the 2010 election.
In Senate District 24, state Sen. Roy Herron announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election to the post.
Two Republican candidates and one Democrat will vie for the Senate seat.
Obion County commissioner Danny Jowers of Kenton and attorney John D. Stevens of Huntington will be listed on the Republican ticket. Voters will be asked to choose one of the candidates.
Brad Thompson, former aide to U.S. Rep. John Tanner, is the lone Democrat on the ballot. Thompson currently serves as community development director for the City of Martin.
 Aug. 2 is the primary for the state Senate and House of Representatives seats.
The Republican nominee will face Thompson again in the November General Election, while Holt and Maddox will vie for the seat in August and November.
The last day to register to vote for the Aug. 2 election is July 3.

WCP 4.17.12