Early voting for all elections in Giles County began on Friday, July 14 and will run through Saturday, July 29. Early voting will be held at the Giles County Election Commission office

When voters in Giles County go to the polls, whether in early voting or in the scheduled election on August 3, 2006, they will encounter a full ballot with a large number of candidates vying for the offices up for grabs in this year’s election.

Heading the ballot will be the race for County Executive, pitting incumbent Janet Vanzant and challenger Glenn Gordon. Jo Ann Townsend is unopposed at this time in her bid for Giles County Trustee. In the race for General Sessions Judge, John P. Damron, Shara A. Flacy, Robert E. (Bobby) Lee, Jr. and Kim B. Tycer will square off. Kyle Horton is running unopposed for the office of Giles County Sheriff and Crystal Gibson Greene has no opposition in her bid for the office of Circuit Court Clerk.

Incumbent Carol Wade is unopposed in the race for County Clerk.

Kay Gibbons and Sandy Ralston will square off in the election for Register of Deeds.

In other county elections, voters will choose 21 county commissioners. Voters are to choose three candidates from each district.

In District 1, Brandon W. Bass, Roger Dale Cagle, Ramona M. Flacy, Alfred C. Harris, Andrew R. Shaver and Wendell Wayne Wilburn are seeking election. In District 2, David L. Bailey, William “Terry” Hughes, Stoney Jackson and Thomas King will square off. In District 2, David Adams, Billy Beets, Rose Marie Cartee, Joe F. Felix, and Tim Risner will seek election.

A field of five candidates will be running for office in District 4, including Edwin Lovell, J.C. McGee, Roger D. Reedy, David E. Ross, and James N. (Jack) Woodard. In District 5, Bill Holt, Connie S. Howell, Tommy Pollard, Tommy Porterfield, Greg Solomon, Shawn Walls, and Larry Worsham will seek office. In the District 6 race, Lee A. (Shorty) Brown, Jr., James Wilkes Harwell, Butch White, and Tina Cox Wilson will face off.

In District 7, candidates include W. Allen Barrett, Thomas A. (Tommy) Campbell II, Alan Faulkner, and Terry W. Harwell.

In the Elkton city election, incumbent Bill Ware is being challenged by Tom Sanderson and Lenden Russell. Payton Blade, Paige Griffith, and incumbent Carolyn Holt are vying for two aldermanic seats. Theresa Abernathy is unopposed in her bid for the Elkton aldermanic seat for a two-year unexpired term.

In Lynnville, four candidates have qualified for three aldermanic seats. The candidates include Sue Berkley, Jim Green, Brad Lowry, and Jason Roberts. Brandon Beard and Tracy Wilburn are vying for the mayoral seat in Minor Hill. Voters in Minor Hill will also elect two aldermen. Candidates for the Minor Hill aldermanic election include James Allen, Jack N. Norwood, and Daryl Walls.

Giles County voters will also be asked to elect new school board members. Candidates for District 1 include Doug Ead, Kathy Norman, and James Merritt Stewart. Fred P. Lindsey is unopposed for the District 2 seat. Steven Hodges and Mike Young are vying for the District 3 seat, while Jim Greene and Bill Wallace square off in the District 5 race. Michael Gonzales and Beverly Greene Murrey are running for the District 7 seat.

Incumbent Mike Bottoms is unopposed in seeking the District Attorney General, 22nd District seat. Claudia S. Jack is also unopposed in her bid for the Public Defender, 22nd Judicial District seat.

The following Democratic candidates have qualified for the upcoming state elections: Eddie Bass and Lee Bussart, vying for the Tennessee House of Representatives, 65th District seat; Doug Jackson and Travis Wood in the race for Tennessee Senator, 25th Senatorial District seat; J.W. Hampton, Sr. for the State Executive Committeeman, 25th District seat; Martha F. Shepard for the State Executive Committeewoman, 25th District seat.

Republican candidates who have qualified for the upcoming state elections include: James P. Moon, running for the Tennessee House of Representatives 65th District seat; Bob Rial seeking election as State Executive Committeeman; and Mary J. Littleton, seeking the State Executive Committeewoman, 25th District seat.

Registration for voting in the election ended July 3.

For further information on registration or the election, contact the Giles County Election Commission at 931-363-2424.

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