Currently there are 25 names in the running for county seats in the upcoming Democratic and Republican Primaries. According to DeKalb Election Commission officials, the following people have been issued qualifying petitions.

For the Republican Primary:

James L. “Jimmy” Poss – County Clerk (Incumbent)
James David “Jim” Pearson- County Commissioner, District 2
Tony L. “Cully” Culwell-County Commissioner, District 4
Larry L. Green- County Commissioner, District 5
Joshua E. Holloway, County Commissioner, District 5
Justin Douglas Adcock, County Commissioner, District 6
Boyd Bruce Malone-County Commissioner, District 7 (Incumbent)
Trevin Merriman-County Commissioner, District 7
Matthew N. “Matt” Adcock- County Mayor
Mingy Kay Ball- General Sessions Court Judge
Brandon J. Cox- General Sessions Court Judge
Daniel A. Seber- Register of Deeds
Patrick R. Ray- Sheriff (Incumbent)
Keneth Lee Whitehead-Sheriff
Sean D. Driver-Trustee (Incumbent)

For the Democratic Primary:

James Waylon Kyle - County Commissioner, District 1
Billy Myron Rhody - County Commissioner, District 2 (Incumbent)
Jack E. Barton, III - County Commissioner, District 3
Susannah Cripps Daughtry - County Commissioner, District 3 (Incumbent)
Jenny A. Trapp - County Commissioner, District 3 (Incumbent)
Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Pafford- County Commissioner, District 7 (Incumbent)
Mike Foster- County Mayor
Tecia Puckett Pryor-General Sessions Court Judge
Shelby D. Reeder- Register of Deeds
Wayne Shehane- Road Supervisor

Offices on the May primary ballots include: County Mayor; Road Supervisor; Sheriff, General Sessions Judge; Circuit Court Clerk; County Clerk; Trustee; Register of Deeds; County Commissioner seats in all seven (7) districts (two can be nominated per district); School Board members in districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7; Constable in District 4 to fill a vacancy; Circuit Court Judge Part I and Part II (13th Judicial District); Chancellor (13th Judicial District); Criminal Court Judge Part I and Part II (13th Judicial District); District Attorney General (13th Judicial District); and Public Defender (13th Judicial District).

Qualifying petitions must be returned by Noon February 17, but there is an earlier deadline for Sheriff and Road Supervisor candidates. They must have appropriate paperwork to the Peace Officer Standards Training Commission (POST) for sheriff, and the Tennessee Highway Officials Certification board, 14 days before the qualifying deadline.

While the above offices will appear on May primary ballots, candidates also have the option to run as Independent candidates who will not appear on the ballot until August. However, the same qualifying deadlines apply. Winners of the May primaries will square off against each other in the August DeKalb County General Election along with any properly qualified Independent candidates.

The local election office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is located on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse.