Friday was the first day persons could pick up qualifying petitions to run for public offices next year and seven potential candidates wasted no time.
Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections reports that Michael Clayborn for County Clerk, Jeffrey McMillen for Register of Deeds, James L. Poss for County Clerk, James Sprague for Road Supervisor, Katherine Pack for Circuit Court Clerk, Bratten H. Cook II for General Sessions Judge, and Jonathan Low for Constable in the Second District were all issued petitions on Friday, November 22.
All but Low plan to be candidates in the May 6, 2014 DeKalb County Democratic Primary.
Low, a resident of Hillview Heights in Dowelltown, will be an Independent candidate to fill the remaining two years of the vacant constable seat in the second district. His name will appear on the DeKalb County General Election ballot in August.
Clayborn, who not only picked up but has already completed and returned his petition to the election commission office, will be seeking his fourth term as County Clerk. Poss, a resident of Bright Hill Road, will challenge Clayborn in the primary.
McMillen, who was first elected Register of Deeds in 1986, will be seeking his eighth term.
Pack will be looking to win a fourth term as Circuit Court Clerk.
Cook is hoping to secure a third eight year term as General Sessions Judge.
Sprague, a resident of Holmes Creek Road, is running for the Democratic Nomination for Road Supervisor, a seat that has been held by Republican Kenny Edge since 1990. Edge is not seeking another term.
The qualifying deadline is NOON February 20, 2014
The DeKalb County Democratic Primary, to be held May 6, establishes the qualifying deadline for Republican and Independent candidates. Republicans and Independents must qualify by the same time as Democrats, noon February 20.
The DeKalb County Republican Party is expected to certify its nominees for county offices by Caucus.
Both parties will have primaries to nominate candidates for judicial offices in the 13th district, which includes DeKalb County.
Democratic and Republican nominees for all local and district offices along with Independent candidates will appear on the DeKalb County General Election ballot in August.
Offices up for election in 2014 include County Mayor, Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Trustee, Road Supervisor, Sheriff, General Sessions Judge, and all fourteen county commissioners and possibly unfilled constable seats. All terms are for four years except the General Sessions Judgeship, which is an eight year term.
In the 13th Judicial District, two criminal court judges, two circuit court judges, a chancellor, district attorney general, and district public defender are also to be elected, each to serve an eight year term.
DeKalb County School board seats in the first, second, third, fourth, and seventh districts will be filled in the 2014 August County General Election. Terms are four years. School board candidates are non-partisan, which means they run neither as Republicans or Democrats. The qualifying date for school board candidates is not until April, 2014. Qualifying petitions are not yet available for school board positions.
“Individuals may be announced candidates and may begin soliciting campaign funds at any time before the election. However, before a candidate raises or spends money, the candidate needs to file an “Appointment of Political Treasurer” with the Election Commission,” said Stanley. “This form is available at http://www.tennessee.gov/tref/forms/ss-1120.pdf or can be obtained at our office. You can print it out online and bring it to us. We must have the original, so a fax or email will not work.”
”You may file the Appointment of Political Treasurer at any time, but it must be filed before you raise or spend money,” Stanley continued. “The Registry of Election Finance has said that “incidental” expenses while you are thinking about running do not count. There are different regulations for judicial candidates, so please ask us before soliciting campaign funds.”
Once a candidate files an Appointment of Treasurer form, the candidate is required to file periodic disclosure reports. The reports are to be filed quarterly during the election year and semi-annually in either the year(s) before or after. Additionally, a report is due 10 days before any election. The report dates can be found at http://www.tennessee.gov/tref/cand/cand_filing.htm or you can obtain a copy at the local election office.
“The State Registry of Election Financial (615-741-7959) or http://www.tennessee.gov/tref/contact.htm has jurisdiction over election financial issues,” Stanley said. “The DeKalb County Election Commission merely files the reports and makes them available to the public. The state office can answer any question you have about financial reports or requirements.”
More information about the petition process, including additional deadlines for Road Superintendent and Sheriff candidates, can be obtained at the election commission office on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse or by logging on to www.dekalbelections.com.
The DeKalb County Election Commission Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Archived News & Obituaries