Qualifying ends for midstate cities
Qualifying for various municipal elections ended Friday, setting the stage for midstate candidates to face off in several races Nov. 3.
While some open elected positions attracted multiple candidates, all of Roberta and East Dublin’s City Council incumbents qualified and are unchallenged.
“We won’t have to have an election,” East Dublin’s City Administrator Larry Drew said.
However, some big races for mayor are expected in Jeffersonville and Forsyth. Former Forsyth Councilman Eric Wilson resigned from post 2 to run against incumbent Mayor John Howard. A special election will be held Nov. 3 to fill the post 2 vacancy, and three new candidates qualified for the seat.
In Jeffersonville, three new candidates will vie for the mayor’s office as incumbent Shannon Hart did not qualify. As many as seven candidates qualified for Jeffersonville City Council post 1, and five qualified for post 2.
There are no races for mayor or commission seats in Macon-Bibb County this year.
Here is a list of qualifiers in various Middle Georgia cities:
BYRON
Mayor: Lawrence Collins (incumbent)
City Council Post 1: James Richardson (incumbent)
City Council Post 2: Rusty Adams; Rick Knowles
CENTERVILLE
City Council Post 3: J. Micheal Evans
City Council Post 4: Jonathan D. Nichols (incumbent); Edward D. Armijo
DUBLIN
Mayor: Phil Best (incumbent)
City Council Ward 1: Bennie Jones
City Council Ward 2: Gary Johnson (incumbent)
City Council Ward 3: Paul Griggs; Keith Griffin
City Council Ward 4: Bill Brown (incumbent); Sophia Jordan
Board of Education District 1: Laura Travick (incumbent)
Board of Education District 2: Peggy Johnson (incumbent)
Board of Education District 3: Bill Perry (incumbent); Ezekiel McWilliams
Board of Education District 4: James Lanier (incumbent); Cherise Blackwell
Board of Education At large: Demetrice Hollis (incumbent); Gregg Washington
EAST DUBLIN
Mayor: George Gornto (incumbent)
City Council Post 1: Braxton Brown Jr. (incumbent)
City Council Post 2: Len Tanner (incumbent)
City Council Post 3: Zilmon Young (incumbent)
City Council At Large: Dent Jackson Jr. (incumbent)
City Council At Large: Al Williams (incumbent)
FORSYTH
Mayor: John Howard (incumbent); Eric Wilson
City Council Post 1: Jimmy Jones (incumbent); Dexter King
City Council Post 2: Alleta Mays; Chris Hewett; Tye Howard
City Council Post 3: Melvin Lawrence (incumbent)
City Council Post 4: Greg Goolsby (incumbent); Nikia Davis
FORT VALLEY
City Council East Ward: Alonzo J. (Zook) Allen; Marvin A. Crafter
City Council West Ward: Jimmy Barnes (incumbent); Kenneth Hill
City Council At Large: Beth Collins (incumbent); LeMario Brown
Utility Commissioner West: Robert T. “Bob” Hunnicut
Utility Commissioner East: Linda D. Johnson
Utility Commissioner At Large: Dollie Horton
GORDON
City Council At Large: Freddie Densley (incumbent); George Wynn (incumbent); Terry Eady (incumbent); James Richard Whipple; Catherine Louviere-Wells; Kay C. Harris
JEFFERSONVILLE
Mayor: Calloway Butler; Charles Williams III; Gloria C. Lewis
City Council District 1: Annie B. Williams (incumbent); Richard Stone (incumbent); Virginia Hollings (incumbent); Daniel Young (incumbent); Frances W. Speele; Jeffrey Lempke; Melvin Hollingsworth
City Council District 2: Mike W. Bryant (incumbent); Tabitha A. Little; Victor L. Jordan (incumbent); Riley Stephens Windham; Jim Jackson Kellom
PERRY
City Council District 1, Post 2: Willie King (incumbent)
City Council District 2, Post 2: William Jackson (incumbent)
City Council District 3, Post 2: Riley Hunt (incumbent); LeAnn Tuggle
ROBERTA
City Council Post 3: Arnita Harris (incumbent)
City Council Post 4: Connie Gibson (incumbent)
City Council Post 5: Robert Cody (incumbent)
WARNER ROBINS
City Council Post 2: Carolyn Robbins (incumbent); Jeffrey Walker
City Council Post 4: Tim Thomas (incumbent); Betsy Loiacono
City Council Post 6: Mike Davis (incumbent); Carmen Antonio
To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.
An earlier version of this story did not include Jeffrey Walker, who qualified to run against incumbent Post 2 Warner Robins City Councilwoman Carolyn Robbins.
This story was originally published September 4, 2015 at 6:45 PM with the headline "Qualifying ends for midstate cities ."