Candidates qualify as deadline nears

With Fridays deadline for qualifying in this years primary elections, a majority of incumbents thus far are safe from challenges.  As of Friday, The Calhoun County Democratic party had fielded only three candidates for two seats. Current Calhoun County Democratic County Commissioner Fred Wilson will face a challenger in James Montgomery.  This will be Wilsons first time on the ballot after being appointed to fill the seat held by longtime commissioner Pappy Dunn.  County Revenue Commissioner Karen Roper will also seek re-election.  The Only other seat currently held by a democrat on the Calhoun county commission is open with commissioner Rudy Abbotts decision not to seek re-election and four republicans have already qualified for that district 5 seat.  Republicans currently hold all but three locally elected seats in Calhoun County. The party is hoping to pick up another seat in 2014.  Sheriff Larry Amerson, who switched this year to the republican party, will face republican challenger Ross McGlaughn, a former Sheriff’s Office deputy and current Heflin police officer. Circuit Judge Brenda Stedham will face republican challenger Peggy Miller, a local attorney. A four-way race among Lee Patterson, Jay Dill, Jason Lively and former Democratic Commissioner Phillip Pritchett will determine who runs for Abbotts District 5 County Commission seat on the Republican ticket.  Carolyn Henderson, a member of the Calhoun County Board of Registrars and wife of County Circuit Clerk Eli Henderson, has qualified to run for county revenue commissioner as a republican.  In the legislative races Anniston attorney Ted Copland has qualified as a Democrat in Montgomery to run against Republican K.L. Brown, for the 40th District representing eastern and northern Calhoun County.

Both  Democratic and Republican party officials in Etowah County expect additional candidates before Friday’s deadline . Few people have qualified since shortly after the process opened last month.  Etowah County GOP Chairman Joe Nabors said Friday he has had several people discuss running with him, but they have not officially qualified. Only one Democrat  has qualified that being incumbent Revenue Commissioner: Linda Barrett-Vaughn .  Republicans who have qualified are District 10 state senatore Phil Williams,   House District 28: Doug Sherrod,  House District 29: Becky Nordgren , House District 30: Mack Butler who is facing a challenge from Robert McKay,  Sheriff: Todd Entrekin , County Commission District 1: Joey Statum , County Commission District 4: Jeff Overstreet , County Commission District 6: Tim Choate , as well as three Phillip Stone for board of education place 1, Scarlet Farley for place 2 and Todd Hindsman for place 3.  Coroner Michael Head has also qualified for re-election.