Election Administrator Provides Important Voter Information for May 3 Primaries (View Video Here)

February 17, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley in conjunction with WJLE has produced a short video with important information of which voters should be aware for the May 3 DeKalb County Democratic and Republican Primaries.

Stanley said the purpose of the video is to answer questions that voters may have to better prepare them for election day.

The following is a summary of the information shared by Stanley in the video:

What is a Primary Election?

• “A primary election is an election for each political party to select its candidates in each office to represent their party in the August County General Election,” said Administrator Stanley.

“In the May primaries, Democrats are running against Democrats and Republicans are running against Republicans. Independent candidates are never listed on a Primary ballot. The winners of the May primaries move on to the August General Election,” he said.

“It is the August General Election when Democrats face Republicans along with any properly qualified Independent candidate. It is August that the winner takes all and becomes the office holder. Also in August we have a Tennessee State Primary for state offices held on the same day and further information about those primaries will be provided later”.

• “In relation to the May Primary, we have been asked if a person can vote for one candidate in one party and another candidate in the other party. The answer is NO. Under state law, a voter cannot vote in two primaries which are held at the same time, such as is the case on May 3. As a result, a voter must decide which candidate, which office or which party is more important to them and then make a selection,” Stanley continued.

• “We have also been asked if a voter says he or she is an Independent, can they vote in May? The answer is YES. There is no such thing as party registration in Tennessee. You are simply a registered voter. However, keep in mind the May elections are Primary elections and there are NO Independent candidates on the May ballots. Again, the voter must choose only one primary,” said Administrator Stanley.

• “Another question is if a voter votes for a particular candidate or party in May do they have to vote for the same candidate or in the same state primary in August? The short answer is NO. August is a completely different election and how someone votes in May has no impact on the August election, either in the County General or Tennessee Primaries. It simply again becomes the voter’s choice,” said Stanley.

“When voting for county offices in August, a voter has the choice to vote for a candidate in either party or for an Independent candidate. August is a County General and voters may choose a party candidate in one office and in another office choose a candidate in the opposite party or vote for an Independent,” he said.

•Another question, is it recorded which primary a voter chooses? “Yes, we do not know who you voted for, but each voter’s party choice is recorded on their permanent record,” Stanley explained.

• If a voter does not vote in May can he or she still vote in August? “Yes, again in basic terms, one election has no relation to the other,” said Administrator Stanley.

• How can I find out which candidate is running in each primary? “Sample ballots are available on our website in advance of the election and are published in a local newspaper of general circulation. In addition, sample ballots will be available at every voting location and every voting precinct on election day. Also a sample ballot will be published on www.wjle.com. Voters are encouraged to study the ballot, see which candidates are running in which primary and make their choice. Again, voters can only choose one primary per election,” Stanley said.

“I also want to remind voters to update their address with the election office to avoid delays when they come to vote. During the petition process we noticed several voters signed a petition with an address that was not the same as in our database. In order to avoid delays or possibly a trip across town on election day, voters need to update their address as soon as possible. That can be done in person or online by logging onto www.dekalbelections.com or www.govoteTN.Gov,” said Stanley.

“I also want to remind voters of some precinct changes. Those who did vote at Edgar Evins State Park will now vote on election day at the Temperance Hall Community Center. Those who voted at the Dowelltown Community Center will vote now at the Liberty Community Center and those who were voting at the Belk Community Center will vote on election day at the Keltonburg Community Center,” Stanley continued.

Early voting will be held April 13 through April 28 and hours will be announced soon. Listen to WJLE or log onto www.wjle.com for more announcements.

“Remember, May elections are Primary elections and voters can only choose to vote in one of those primaries that day,” Stanley concluded.

February 17, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The stage is set for the May 3 DeKalb County Democratic and Republican Primaries and for Independents running in the August 4 DeKalb County General Election.

Today at noon (February 17) was the qualifying deadline.

A total of eighteen candidates are in the race for the eight county-wide public offices up for election this year in DeKalb County and each party (Democrat and Republican) will have a primary on May 3 to nominate candidates to run in the August DeKalb County General Election.

The candidates have met the signature requirements to be placed on the ballot pending approval from the respective political parties. Since the May elections are primary elections, the state political parties have the final say in vetting candidates.

Three incumbent Republican County office holders will run unopposed in both the May 3 GOP primary and the August 4 General Election including Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin, County Clerk James L. “Jimmy” Poss, and Trustee Sean Driver.

Incumbent Republican Road Supervisor Danny Hale will be unopposed in the May 3 GOP Primary, but he will face Democrat Wayne Shehane in the August General Election. Shehane is unopposed for the Democratic nomination for Road Supervisor. Shane Walker had sought to enter the GOP Primary for Road Supervisor, but the Tennessee Highway Officials Certification Board denied his application for certification finding that he had not met the qualifications under state law to hold the office of Road Supervisor. Barring an appeal, Walker will not be a candidate.

In the race to succeed retiring Incumbent Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen, there are two candidates, Democrat Shelby Reeder and Republican Daniel Seber. Both are running unopposed in their respective party primaries on May 3 but will run against each other in the August 4 General Election.

Incumbent Republican Sheriff Patrick Ray will face opposition from Keneth Lee Whitehead in the May 3 GOP Primary. The nominee will be unopposed in the August 4 General Election.

Both party primaries will feature contested races for County Mayor. Incumbent Tim Stribling will face opposition from Mike Foster in the May 3 Democratic Primary while Matt Adcock, Bradley Hendrix, and Anita Puckett will seek their party’s nomination for County Mayor in the May 3 Republican Primary. Winners of each Primary on May 3 will run against each other in the August 4 General Election.

There are also contested races in both party primaries for General Sessions Court Judge.

Margie Rigsby Miller and Tecia Puckett Pryor are vying for their party’s nomination in the May 3 Democratic Primary while Mingy Kay Ball and Brandon Cox are running against each other for the Republican nomination in the May 3 GOP Primary. Winners of both primaries will face each other in the August 4 General Election. The newly elected Judge will succeed Incumbent Bratten H. Cook, II who is retiring from the bench as of August 31.

The terms of each office are for four years except the General Sessions Judge which is an eight-year term.

February 17, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Twenty-nine candidates will be in contention for one of the 14 seats on the county commission in 2022 including 9 Democrats, 17 Republicans, and 3 Independents.

Both the Democratic and Republican Parties will have Primaries on May 3 to selection nominees (2 from each of the 7 districts in the county) to run in the August 4 DeKalb County General Election. Two commissioners from each district will be elected in August.

Today at noon (February 17) was the qualifying deadline.

The candidates have met the signature requirements to be placed on the ballot pending approval from the respective political parties. Since the May elections are primary elections, the state political parties have the final say in vetting candidates.

In District 1, Incumbent Julie Young will be running unopposed in the May 3 Democratic Primary while Bennett Armstrong and Tom Chandler will be unopposed in the May 3 GOP Primary. Independent candidate Daniel Cripps will be on the ballot with Young, Armstrong, and Chandler in the August General Election. Two are to be elected in August

In District 2, Incumbent Myron Rhody will be unopposed in the May 3 Democratic Primary while Incumbent Sabrina Farler and Jim Pearson will be unopposed on the May 3 GOP Primary. All three will be on the ballot in the August General Election. Two are to be elected in August

In District 3, Incumbents Susannah Cripps Daughtry and Jenny Trapp will face opposition from Jack E. Barton, III in the May 3 Democratic Primary (two Democratic candidates to be nominated) while Tim Perricone will be unopposed in the May 3 GOP Primary. The Democratic and Republican nominees will be on the ballot in August along with independent candidate Tony Luna. Two are to be elected in August.

In District 4, Incumbent Janice Fish Stewart will be unopposed in the May 3 Democratic Primary while the Republican Primary on May 3 will have three candidates, Tony L. “Cully” Culwell, Dan Delacruz, and Greg Matthews (two GOP candidates to be nominated). The Democratic and Republican nominees will be on the ballot in August along with independent candidate Wayne Cantrell. Two are to be elected in August.

In District 5, there are no Democratic or Independent candidates, but five persons are running in the May 3 GOP Primary including Incumbent Jerry Adcock, Larry L, Green, Joshua Holloway, Charles Glynn Merriman, and Steve Randall Merriman, Sr. (two GOP candidates to be nominated) The nominees will be unopposed in the August 4 General Election.

In District 6, Incumbent Jeff Barnes and Danny McGinnis will be running unopposed in the May 3 Democratic Primary. Two candidates are running unopposed in the May 3 GOP Primary including Justin Douglas Adcock and Doug Stephens. The Democratic and Republican nominees will be on the ballot in August. Two are to be elected in August.

In District 7, Incumbent Bruce Malone and Timothy Brian Reynolds will be unopposed in the May 3 GOP primary. Democratic Incumbent Beth Pafford is unopposed in the May 3 Democratic Primary. The Democratic and Republican nominees will be on the ballot in August. Two are to be elected in August.

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