The deadline is fast approaching for candidates who want to qualify for the Republican and Democrat primary elections for county offices scheduled for March.
Included on the March 1, 2016, ballot will be the unexpired terms for two seats on the Carter County Commission. Earlier this year, Jerry Proffitt, who was elected in 2014 to represent the 1st District, and Beth Depew, who was elected the same year to represent the 3rd District, had to resign their seats on the Commission.
Per the rules and bylaws of the County Commission, members of the body appointed replacement commissioners from a pool of qualified applicants. Dr. Robert Acuff was selected to represent the 1st District and Bradley Johnson, an investigator with the Carter County Sheriff’s Department, was appointed to represent the 3rd District. Acuff and Johnson will fill those seats until September 1, 2016, at which time the winners of the county’s general election for those seats will take over to fulfill the remainder of the unexpired term until Sept. 1, 2018.
Also on the ballot for the Primary Election in March will be the Carter County Assessor of Property position and a Circuit Court judgeship which covers Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington Counties.
The first step in being elected is becoming a qualified candidate, Carter County Administrator of Elections Tracy Harris said.
In order to become a qualified candidate for either the Republican or the Democrat primary election for county offices in March 2016, individuals must complete an information packet along with a signature petition form and return it to the Carter County Election Office no later than Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, at Noon.
“So far, no one has picked up a packet for the two unexpired Commission seats,” Harris said.
To qualify for the County Commission seats, Harris said potential
Ronnie Taylor, the current Carter County Assessor of Property, has turned in his paperwork to seek re-election, Harris said, adding no one else has picked up paperwork to run against Taylor for the position.
No one has picked up paperwork seeking the Circuit Court Judge’s seat either, Harris said. Because the Circuit Court Judge covers four counties, those seeking to be on the ballot for that position must file paperwork with all four counties.
“If anyone has filed in other counties we’ve not been notified,” Harris said of the judgeship.
If candidates fail to meet the Dec. 10 deadline for the primary election, Harris said they could choose to run in the August general election but they would have to do so as independent candidates and could not be listed as either a Republican or Democrat on the ballot.
Normally, the county holds its Primary Elections in May but this year, the county decided to move the Primary date up to March so that the county election would coincide with the already scheduled Presidential Republican and Democrat primary elections. This way, Harris said, it creates a cost savings for the county by eliminating a separate election.
In 2016, voters will head to the polls a total of three times — in March for the Presidential and county primary elections, again in August for the county general election and the state office primary election and then in November for the Presidential election and the state office general election.
Those interested in picking up paperwork for the Carter County Republican or Democrat primary election may pick up the packets and signature petition forms at the Election Commission Office, located at 116 Holston Avenue, next to the Carter County Health Department. For more information, contact the Election Commission Office at 423-542-1822.