Democratic sheriff, GOP House among popular contests Tuesday

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, August 8, 2007

The small building east of Montgomery Church stands silent thisweekend, but it and other polling precincts like it will bustlewith activity Tuesday as voters cast their ballots in partyprimaries.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for voters tochoose who will represent the Democratic and Republican parties inthe Nov. 6 general election for in state, regional and localoffices.

Absentee voting in the primaries ended Saturday, althoughcircuit clerks’ offices will continue to accept ballots in the mailuntil 5 p.m. Monday.

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Absentee voting surged during the last week, said Lincoln CountyCircuit Clerk Terry Lynn Watkins, and brought the total up to morethan nearly 700 ballots returned. The number of absentee ballotscould be an indication of a strong voter turnout for Tuesday’sprimaries, she said.

In those primaries, voters must choose to vote the Democratic orRepublican ticket.

The way they choose Tuesday will also determine which runoffelections they will be able to participate in on Aug. 28. Voterswill not be allowed to “cross-over” from one party in the firstprimary to the other party for the runoff.

Voters may cast their ballots for the best candidate, regardlessof party, in the Nov. 6 general election.

Some races, however, will be determined Tuesday or Aug. 28because the party primary winner will not face any opponents in thegeneral election.

Among those races at the regional level is the contest forDistrict Attorney for the 14th Judicial District. The Democraticrace pits incumbent Dewitt “Dee” Bates Jr. against challengerNelson Estess.

At the local level, Lincoln County races that will be decided inthe Democratic primary include:

* Chancery clerk: incumbent Tillmon Bishop or Maxine McCoyJones.

* Circuit clerk: incumbent Terry Lynn Watkins or Nicki R.McGraw.

* Tax assessor/collector: incumbent Nancy Jordan or RitaWilkinson Goss.

* Supervisor District Two: incumbent Bobby J. Watts, Ellis DaveChatmon or Jerry E. Nix.

* Supervisor District Three: incumbent Nolan Earl Williamson,Marley B. Bowman or Russell L. Laird.

* Supervisor District Four: incumbent W.D. “Doug” Moak, C.E.”Eddie” Brown, Charles Davis or Jeff Fauver.

* Justice Court Judge Post One: Ralph Boone, Carol Brewer, FrankLeggett, Art Likens, Valerie Shelby Sterling or Trisha JordanWeeks.

* Constable Post One: incumbent Charles Ralph Smith Jr., ClintA. Earls, Kelly Porter or Don Smith.

* Constable Post Two: incumbent W. Lavon Boyd, Mike Milholen orRobert “Bobby” Ratcliff.

There are no races that will be decided in the Republicanprimary.

Incumbents who are unopposed for re-election this year include:Coroner Clay McMorris, County Surveyor Joe Byrd, District OneSupervisor the Rev. Jerry Wilson and Lincoln County School DistrictSuperintendent Terry Brister. All are Democrats.