In the first four days of candidate petitions being available, more than two dozen local residents have picked up paperwork to run for office in the upcoming 2018 county elections.

In recent months several individuals have publicly announced their intention to run for local offices, with many of those already picking up their paperwork in the first few days of eligibility.

Carter County will host primary elections for both the county’s Republican and Democratic parties on May 1, 2018. All county offices except the Assessor of Property — which is elected during mid-term — will be on the ballot.

All of those seeking the nomination of either political party will need to run a campaign for the Primary Election. The winning candidates in the primary will go on to be their party’s nominee in the August 2018 General Election.

Individuals wishing to run as Independent candidates do not have to participate in the primary process, but still must complete their candidate paperwork by the same deadline as those seeking their party’s nomination.

Candidate petitions can be picked up now at the Carter County Election Commission and candidates will have until Noon on February 15, 2018  to turn in their paperwork.

To qualify as a candidate for either party’s primary election or as an independent, residents must complete a candidate petition, according to Carter County Administrator of Elections Tracy Harris. Each candidate petition must contain the signatures of at least 25 registered voters in order for the candidate to qualify. Those seeking election to a county-wide office — such as Mayor or Sheriff — can obtain signatures from registered voters residing anywhere in Carter County. Those running for district-specific offices — such as County Commission or Constable — must obtain their 25 signatures from registered voters residing within that district.

Below is a list of individuals who have picked up petitions seeking public offices in the specified races.

Carter County Mayor:

Rusty Barnett

Larry Shell

Danny Ward

Carter County Sheriff:

Rocky Croy

Dexter Lunceford

County Clerk:

Bruce Pierce

Patsy Lewis

Mary Gouge

Trustee:

Randall Lewis

Register of Deeds:

Jarred Ellis

Jessica Markland

Road Superintendent:

Roger Colbaugh

Circuit Court Clerk:

Johnny Blankenship

Carter County

Commission:

Willie Campbell – 1st District

Al Meehan – 2nd District

Richard Guinn – 2nd District

John Babb – 2nd District

Brad Johnson – 3rd District

Charles VonCannon – 3rd District

Ross Garland – 5th District

Randall Jenkins – 6th District

Travis Hill – 6th District

Myles Cook – 8th District

Constable:

Barney Brown – 2nd District

Scott Hall – 3rd District

Jason Jones – 4th

Larry Presnell – 5th District

John Henson – 6th District

Ken Potter – 7th District

Gabriel “Seth” Babb – 7th District

So far, according to the Election Commission, four of those candidates have already turned their petitions back in and have qualified as candidates. Those individuals are Johnny Blankenship, Jarred Ellis, Patsy Lewis, and John Henson.

For more information on candidate paperwork, registering to vote, or anything related to the upcoming elections, contact the Carter County Election Commission at 423-542-1822 or stop by their office located at 116 Holston Avenue, Elizabethton, across from the Health Department.