While no county wide offices were up for election last year, there will be lots up for grabs in 2008.
Up for election this year include four posts on the county commission. County Commission Chairman Jimmy Burnsed has declared his intention to run again, while neither District 1 Commissioner Ed Bacon nor District 3 Commissioner Glen Willard have said whether they’ll seek another term. District 2 Commissioner Blondean Newman announced Thursday she will retire at the end of the year.
The school board could see three seats being contested. Those include vice chairman, which is currently held by longtime BoE member Frances Meek and is being sought by current District 3 member Jeff Morton.
Meeks has said she is still undecided on whether to seek another term.
In addition, Charles Johnson has declared for the District 3 post and Billy Mock has announced he isn’t going to seek re-election to the District 2 post after holding the position for 21 years.
All the county’s constitutional offices will also be on the ballot ini 2008. Sheriff Clyde Smith has announced he will seek a fourth term while Probate Judge Sam Davis, Superior Court Clerk Becky Crowe, Tax Commissioner Debbie Newman and Coroner Danny Page are also up for re-election.
Smith is the only one to publically announce plans to run again.
The primaries are in July and any runoffs will be in August.
"In the primary in Georgia, every candidate has to win by 50 percent plus one. If there’s a position with more than two candidates, then there’s a runoff election," Davis said. "It’s hard to judge what the participation might be in a runoff. In December, it’ll be nonpartisan, and a lot of Bryan County residents don’t know the candidates because they’re not from the area," Davis said, adding that August will likely be a better turnout with local positions on the ballots.
Richmond Hill’s Sunday liquor-by-the-drink referendum goes before voters Sept. 16 in a special election. The general election is Nov. 4. Any runoffs will be held Dec. 2.
Here’s a timeline for the 2008 election events:
April 28, 9 a.m. – The qualifying week for a political party candidate to file a declaration of candidacy in the General Primary ballot begins. Republicans may qualify at the Sellstate Coastal Realty, located at 9390 Ford Avenue, Suite 4, in Richmond Hill. Democrats may qualify at the Bryan County Probate Court office, located at 151 S. College Street in Pembroke.
May 2, noon – The end of the qualifying period.
June 16 – The last day for a person to register and be eligible to vote in the General Primary election. Residents may pick up voter registration applications in the Probate Office at the Courthouse Annex in Richmond Hill or the Registrar’s Office in Pembroke.
July 15 – The General Primary Election
Aug. 5 – The Primary Runoff Election
Aug. 18 – The last day a person may register and be eligible to vote in the Special Election.
Sept. 16 – The Special Election. Richmond Hill will place the liquor referendum on the ballot for this election, which will be held at the Wetlands Center in J.F. Gregory Park.
Oct. 6 – The last day a person may register and be eligible to vote in the General and Nonpartisan Election and Runoff.
Nov. 4 – The Presidential and General Nonpartisan Election
Dec. 2 – The General Nonpartisan Election Runoff