Friday was the last day to qualify for the upcoming November elections. The week’s qualifying period proved to bring out some new candidates for the fall ballots.
On Monday, previous incumbents for Richmond Hill’s open councilmen positions, Billy Albritton and Jimmy Hires, had already signed up for their positions and qualified, said Richmond Hill City Clerk Ursula Lee.
By Friday, Van Hunter was qualified to run against Hires, and Marilyn Hodges, Kevin Artz and Darryl Peterman had qualified against Albritton.Floyd Hilliard, a current councilman and Mayor Pro-tem, said Hunter is a computer repairman, and a prior councilman who ran in last year’s election and lost.
Hodges is a single parent and widow living in Sterling Creek; she works part-time for Royal Brothers, Inc. Lee said Peterman is retired, and Artz is a project manager.
"I truly believe whatever the outcome is, Richmond Hill is a blessed community and the best man or woman will win, because we really do have some great people in our community" Hilliard said.
Previous Pembroke incumbents Elijah Lewis, Jr., Judy Cook, Johnny Miller, Sr., Ernest Hamilton and Joey Burnsed all qualified on Monday to run, Pembroke City Clerk Betty Hill said.
Angela Reed also qualified Monday; she will be running at large against Hamilton. By Friday, other new contenders included Tiffany McCoy Walraven who will run against Miller, Tony Greeson against Burnsed, and Douglas Kangeter against Lewis.
Hill said none of the newly qualified candidates have ever run for office. Reed is a customer service representative for Pembroke Telephone Company, Walraven is in marketing and supplies for Owens Supply Company, Greeson is a paramedic, and Kangeter has a logging business.
"It’s the democratic process at work," Pembroke Mayor Judy Cook said. "Now that qualifying has ended and we officially have our slate of candidates, I really encourage the citizens to exercise their right to vote."
In addition, the county will vote on the Board of Education SPLOST vote, Chief Registrar Warren Miller said. Oct. 9 will be the last registration day for voting in the special election, which will be held Tuesday, Nov. 6.