Three incumbent commissioners run for re-election
Three incumbents and a newcomer filed papers to run for the Effingham County commission on the first day of qualifying Monday.
Commissioners Vera Jones, Phil Kieffer and Steve Mason all said they would run as Republicans for re-election.
Jamie DeLoach, 34, manager of the Rincon branch of The Coastal Bank, qualified as a Republican to run against Mason in District 3.
For the Board of Education, two people threw their hats in the ring for the non-partisan seats on Monday: Robert Grant in District 1 and Amanda Phillips in District 4.
Grant, 38, is a stay-at-home father who has a son in eighth grade at South Effingham Middle School and a daughter in fifth grade at Marlow Elementary School.
Phillips, 35, is a stay-at-home mother with a second grader at Ebenezer Elementary and a child in a private pre-K.
The District 1 seat is held by Eddie Tomberlin. The District 4 seat was vacated by Mose Mock, who resigned recently to spend more time with his son, who has cancer. He has not been replaced on the board.
Two other seats are up for election — judge of the State Court and solicitor of State Court. No one qualified for those posts on Monday.
Qualifying began at 9 a.m. Monday and continues through noon on Friday, March 7, according to Olivia Morgan, supervisor with the board of elections.
Qualifying for the non-partisan races — the State Court judge and board of education — is held at the board of elections office, at 284 Ga. 119 S., in Springfield. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
The contact there is Morgan, at 754-8030.
Candidates for partisan races — county commissioners and the solicitor of State Court — qualify at two separate locations. Republicans sign up at Dasher Insurance Agency, 105 E. First St., Springfield. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Contacts are Brad Green at 661-4691 and Brittany Dasher at 754-0034.
Democrats sign up at Snooks Realty, 107 Laurel St., Springfield. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. The contact is Jack Garvin at 754-0015. No Democrats filed papers on Monday.
Qualification fees are: State Court judge, $3,608; State Court solicitor, $3,066; commissioners, $454; and board of education, $72.
Currently, the State Court judge is Ronald K. Thompson and the State Court solicitor is Mark A. Lee.
The general primary is set for May 20 and the general election is Nov. 4.