Meet your local candidates

County commissioners and board of education candidates are vying for votes before advanced voting starts April 28. The Journal Reporter has given each of them an opportunity to tell in their own words why they should get those votes. A Political Forum will be held Tuesday, May 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Christ Chapel building on Highway 19. The forum will be hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Farm Bureau and is free for the public. Questions for the candidates may be submitted by calling 770-567-2029 or 770-567-7290 or emailing them to pikeida@pikecountygachamber.com.There are three candidates for the county commission District 1 seat, not including incumbent Carol Bass. The candidates for District 1 are Tim Daniel, Mark Lennon and Roosevelt Willis. There are two candidates for the county commission District 2 seat, not including incumbent Tamra Jarrett. The candidates for District 2 are Timothy Guy and Peter Potter. There are four board of education seats up for election May 20, including school board District 1, District 2, District 4 and District 6. Two of the candidates are unopposed – Ryan Edge for District 1 and Allen Edwards for District 2. The two candidates for the school board District 6 seat include incumbent Fred Blackmon and challenger Edd Sanders. The two candidates for the special election set to fill the unexpired school board District 4 seat are incumbent Charlie Garrard and challenger Robert E. Adams Jr. Voters can get to the polls early at the courthouse Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 28 through May 16, with the polls also open Saturday, May 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Absentee ballots will be mailed April 4 and applications for absentee ballots may be submitted through May. According to registrar Sandi Chamblin, 87 sample ballots will be displayed throughout the courthouse lobby area.