No surprises after first day of qualifying in midstate

March 04--Election season has officially begun.

So far, there have been no big surprises locally as qualifying for the May 20 primary and nonpartisan elections kicked off Monday. But with a deadline of noon Friday, there's still time for candidates to throw their hat in the ring.

At first look, some of the most competitive races are shaping up to be at the federal level, where several Republicans are looking to unseat John Barrow in the 12th Congressional District, which includes Laurens and Wheeler counties and stretches east. In addition, several Republicans and Democrats are seeking Sen. Saxby Chambliss' seat, which he is vacating.

In the state Senate, it looks like another rematch is brewing between Sen. David Lucas and former Sen. Miriam Paris, both Democrats.

Here's a look at who else qualified Monday:

Bibb County

State Court judge

William P. Adams, 61, nonpartisan, incumbent

Jeffrey B. Hanson, 47, nonpartisan, incumbent

Magistrate Court judge

William C. Randall, 70, nonpartisan, incumbent

Board of Education, Post 7 at-large

Daryl J. Morton, 52, attorney, nonpartisan

Macon Water Authority, District 1

Dorothy C. Black, 80, retired educator, nonpartisan, incumbent

Anissa M. Jones, 42, chiropractor, nonpartisan

Macon Water Authority, District 4

Frank K. Patterson, 66, retired, nonpartisan, incumbent

Crawford County

Board of Education, District 5

--Jackson DeFore III, 35, accounting manager, nonpartisan

County Commission, District 1

Larry Cooley, self-employed farmer,

County Commission, District 5, Republican

Paul Chapman, Republican, incumbent

Houston County

County Commission, chairman

George Thomas "Tommy" Stalnaker, 64, Republican, incumbent

County Commission, Post 2

Homer Jay Walker III, 66, attorney, Republican, incumbent

State Court clerk

Kendra Hancock Simons, 37, Republican, incumbent

State Court judge

Jason E. Ashford, 45, nonpartisan, incumbent

Board of Education, District 1

Rick Unruh, 61, minister, nonpartisan, incumbent

Jones County

Board of Education, District 1

Tony Blash, 51, medical education coordinator, nonpartisan

Richard Cazort, 53, construction estimator, nonpartisan

Ken Hamilton, 54, electrical designer, nonpartisan

Board of Education, District 3

J.D. Collins, 55, law enforcement, nonpartisan

Monroe County

Board of Education, District 5

Nolan Howard, 63, self-employed transportation broker, nonpartisan

Peach County

County Commission, Post 2

Walter Leon Smith, 62, Democrat, incumbent

County Commission, Post 4

Martin Hood Moseley Jr., 54, farm manager, Republican, incumbent

Board of Education, Post 4

Buford James Walker III, 36, real estate developer, Republican

Board of Education, Post 5

Ben Hoots, 39, small business owner, Republican

Twiggs County

Board of Education, District 3

Lacharn Cobb Dennard, 44, Division of Family and Children Services caseworker, nonpartisan, incumbent

Georgia House

State Representative, District 140

Robert Dickey, 60, peach grower, Republican, incumbent

State Representative, District 141

Allen Peake, 53, restaurant owner, Republican, incumbent

State Representative, District 142

Nikki Randall, 41, marketing manager, Democrat, incumbent

State Representative, District 143

Lonzy Edwards, 64, lawyer, Democrat

State Representative, District 144

Bubber Epps, 70, retired contractor, Republican, incumbent

State Representative, District 145

Rusty Kidd, 67, business owner, independent, incumbent

State Representative, District 146

Larry O'Neal, 64, retired, Republican, incumbent

State Representative, District 147

Willie Lee Talton, 71, retired law enforcement, Republican, incumbent

Georgia Senate

State Senate, District 26

David Lucas, 63, Democrat, self-employed, incumbent

Miriam Paris, 53, Democrat, realtor

Congress

U.S. Representative, District 2

Sanford Bishop, Democrat, incumbent

U.S. Representative, District 8

J. Austin Scott, insurance agent, Republican, incumbent

U.S. Representative, District 10

Gary Gerrard, attorney, Republican

Donna H. Sheldon, business owner, Republican

U.S. Representative, District 12

R.W. "Rick" Allen, general contractor, Republican

John Barrow, attorney, Democrat, incumbent

Delvis William Dutton, owner of well drilling company, Republican

John E. Stone, Republican

Diane Swanson Vann, registered nurse, Republican

Eugene C. Yu, retiree, Republican

U.S. Senator

Paul Broun, physician, Republican

John Phillip "Phil" Gingrey, physician, Republican

Karen C. Handel, owner of Handel Strategy Group, Republican

J.H. "Jack" Kingston, congressman, Republican

Branko "Dr. Rad" Radulovacki, physician, Democrat

Todd Anthony Robinson, educator, Democrat

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