Hot Primary Election coming up as qualifying in Jackson County ends

The 2024 election-qualifying period officially closed at noon on Friday, June 14. It will be busy months ahead for more then almost two-dozen county candidates who qualified to run for a county-elected position.

Five incumbents and a newly elected candidate also received the good news that they were unopposed for 2024, receiving the elected position for the next four years. Current Jackson County Judge Douglas Wade Mercer, Clerk of Court Clayton O. Rooks, III, Supervisor of Elections Carol Dunaway, Tax Collector Mary Carol Murdock, and School Board member for District 2 Tony Pumphrey all qualified for their perspective offices and will continue to represent the county in those seats through 2028. The Jackson County School Board will also have one new member with District 3 seat being given to Rex Torbett who while new to the roster took the office unopposed. All four seats up for election on the Jackson District Soil and Water Conservation Board were also elected with each candidate running unopposed. Those board members include: Group 1 David DeFelix, Group 2 Mack Glass, Group 4 Stephen Basford, and Group 5 Jeffrey Pittman.

Other races in the county will be heating up as the August Primary is just around the corner and a majority of the county offices have multiple candidates vying for the positions. The Primary election will include several big decisions from Republican voters as well as one Democratic race for the County Commissioner District 1 seat.

The race to be elected as the 2024 Jackson County Sheriff will start with the Republican Primary in August. Three Republican candidates are vying for the nomination. Those candidates are incumbent Sheriff Donnie Edenfield, Chris Brannon, and Jeffrey O’Pry. The winner of the Republican primary will continue to November to face No Party Affiliated candidate and Graceville resident Lee Keith.

Many voters in the area that live in the District 1 portion of the county will also be voting as a Republican and Democratic Primary will be held in August with four candidates vying for the seat. Current incumbent Commissioner Alex McKinnie and Dr. Willie Spire will be campaigning to be the Democrat nominee for the county seat while running in the Republican Primary for the County Commissioner District 1 seat is Byron Dickens and Kristi Folds. The winners in each August Primary will face off in the November election for the office.

Another office up for election is the Jackson County School District Superintendent seat currently held by Steve Benton. Two other candidates are running for the seat in 2024 in the Republican Party. Those individuals including incumbent Superintendent Steven Benton, Sr., are Hunter Nolen and Laurence Pender. All three candidates will face off on the Republican Primary ballot on Tuesday, August 20. The winner of that election will continue on into the November election against the Democrat candidate Eddie Ellis.

Several other county commissioner seats that are up for election in 2024 include Seats 3 and 5. Incumbent for County Commissioner District 3 seat Paul Donofro Jr., will be running against Mary Ann Hutton on the Republican ticket. Whoever wins the August Primary will face off against Democrat candidate Roger Pittman. District 5’s county commission seat will be an interesting race with three candidates running for the position including current incumbent Jim Peacock. Campaigning for the Republican candidate seat against incumbent Peacock is Mickey Gilmore, Ana Gonzalez, and Jamey Westbrook. Since all candidates are running in the same party with no other Republicans vying for the seat, all voters in District 5 (no matter party affiliation) will be able to vote on this race in August. The winner of the August election will take the seat.

Finishing off the elections in Jackson County is the bid for Jackson County Property Appraiser. The current Jackson County Property Appraiser Rebecca Morris-Haid is running for re-election against Republican David Fraser. Since both candidates are running in the same party with no other candidates vying for the seat, all voters in the county (no matter party affiliation) will be able to vote on this race in August. The winner of the August election will take the office of Jackson County Property Appraiser.

"Candidate qualifying has officially ended in Jackson County," said Supervisor Carol Dunaway on Friday afternoon. "It is going to be a busy summer for many local candidates who will appear on the Primary Ballot in August. For voters, now is the time to ensure your voting record is updated; making sure we have the correct address on file and your signature reflects how you sign your name today. For those who need to register to vote or change their party affiliation, the deadline to do so is July 22, 2024, ahead of the Primary Election."

The August Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, August 20 and the November General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5. New registrations and party changes for the Primary Election will close on July 22, 2024 with Primary Early Voting starting on Tuesday, August 6 and going through Saturday, August 17. New voter registrations and party changes for the General Election must be completed by October 7, 2024.

PHOTO CUTLINE: Jackson County Supervisor of Elections Carol Dunaway (center) with fellow staff members

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