Qualifying opened Monday for the November 2 municipal elections. In Habersham County, eight candidates filed the paperwork to run, including three for county commission.
Ty Akins, Locke Arnold, and Jason Eric Hogan, all from Clarkesville, are running for the District 5 seat on the Habersham County Board of Commissioners. The seat was left vacant when Tim Stamey resigned in April. The winner will fill the remainder of Stamey’s unexpired term through December 31, 2024.
Lindsay Claire Sloan is running for the Post 1 Clarkesville City Council seat. She was the only candidate in that city to qualify on opening day. Clarkesville voters will also cast ballots for Post 4 and 5 council seats and mayor.
RELATED: Qualifying for local elections opens August 16
Meanwhile, next door in Demorest, voters will elect two council members and a mayor. Former Demorest City Councilman Jerry Harkness qualified to run for the mayor’s office currently held by Rick Austin. Austin announced last week he will not seek reelection to the post. Lawrence G. Bridges qualified to run for Demorest City Council.
In Mt. Airy, Ray McAllister qualified Monday to run for mayor. Patrick Ledford qualified for one of two open council seats.
No one qualified Monday to run in Alto, Baldwin, or Cornelia where there are several city council and mayoral races on the ballot this year.
Prospective candidates may qualify this week at the Habersham County Office of Elections and Registration. The office is located in the new Habersham County Administration Building at 130 Jacob’s Way, Suite 101 in Clarkesville.
Qualifying ends at noon Friday, August 20.
This article has been updated to reflect that Lindsay Sloan is running for one of three Clarkesville City Council seats up for election this year, not mayor as previously reported.
