By TAMMIE TOLER
Princeton Times
PRINCETON —
Time is running out for candidates who plan to seek their parties’ nominations in the May primary.
The candidate filing period runs through midnight Jan. 28 for candidates to qualify for ballots in the May 8 primary election.
So far, the Mercer County lineup includes a mixture of incumbents and challengers, as well as a few political newcomers.
• The five Mercer County magistrate judge positions appear to be among the most sought-after seats in the competition, as Democrats Jim Dent, John McGinnis, Charles Poe, Susan Honaker, Mike Flanigan, Rick Fowler and Jacob “Jake” Hodges seek election. Sandra Dorsey is the lone Republican seeking a magistrate’s seat. There are five positions available.
• With one Mercer County Commission spot up for grabs, there are four men vying for the position. Democrat incumbent Jay Mills will face competition from Democrat Terry Hughes and Republicans Marshall Mann and A. Gene Buckner.
• Two Democrats, Sharon Gearhart and Gerald Otey, have announced plans to run for assessor.
• Democrats Kevin Weiss and incumbent Mercer County Sheriff D.B. “Don” Meadows will race for the sheriff’s position.
• Democrat Paul Hodges Jr. and Republican Mary Alice Kaufman, have filed to run for the Mercer County Board of Education. Kaufman is an incumbent Board member, and Hodges is a retired school teacher.
As of late Thursday afternoon, only three positions were uncontested. As of press time, Democrat incumbent Prosecutor Scott Ash appeared to be running unopposed, while fellow Democrats Virgel Caldwell and Richard Dillon Sr., had announced plans to seek positions of conservation supervisor and surveyor, respectively.
Voters will head to the polling places on May 8, and early voting for this spring’s primary election is slated for April 25-May 5.
— Contact Tammie Toler at ttoler@ptonline.net.
