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.