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BoC, BoE, sheriff, judges among this years offices for grabs
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Election days

Georgia voters will have the chance to vote in three separate elections this year:

March 6: Presidential preference primary allows voters to cast a ballot on Republican presidential candidates; Though Barack Obama is the only candidate listed, Democrats will hold a primary, too.

July. 31: General primary/nonpartisan/special election allows voters to cast ballots on local non-partisan candidates, the Transportation Investment Act 1-percent sales tax referendum and any other ballot items.

Nov. 6: General election, including presidential and senate and congressional races.

Qualifying fees for 2012 Liberty County general elections
• Probate Court judge: $1,894.94
• Superior Court clerk: $1,894.94
• Sheriff: $2,270.25
• Tax commissioner: $1,894.94
• Chief Magistrate: $1,894.94
• Coroner: $72
• State Court solicitor: $1,560
• State Court judge: $1,560
• Liberty Co. commissioners: $54
• Liberty County chairman: $72
• Liberty County Board of Election: $180

• BoC districts 4, 5 and 6 and BoE districts 1, 2 and 3 are each up for election this year.

This year promises to be a busy one in terms of area elections.

Along with this year’s presidential, congressional and state legislature elections, voters also will weigh in on who controls government at the county level.

Three seats on the Liberty County board of education districts 1, 2 and 3 as well as districts 4, 5 and 6 for the board of commissioners will be left to voters, along with a host of other elected roles.

Other local seats for grabs this year include sheriff, coroner, tax commissioner, chief magistrate, probate court judge, State Court solicitor, State Court judge, Superior Court clerk and commission chairman. Each seat has a four-year term, according to Liberty County Board of Elections and Voter Registration supervisor Ella Golden.

According to Golden, the most basic requirement for these offices is that candidates be qualified voters, citizens of the county and at least 21 years of age.

Some specific offices have narrower requirements and higher minimum ages, she added.

Qualifying for local nonpartisan candidates begins at 9 a.m. May 23 and ends at noon May 25, Golden said.

During the Liberty County Board of Commissioners’ Jan. 3 meeting, the board approved qualifying fees for this year’s general county elections, in accordance with a Georgia Code section that requires fees be set on or before Feb.  1.

“Generally, the fee shall be 3 percent of the total gross salary of the office paid in the preceding calendar year, including all supplements authorized by law if a salaried office,” said a fax from the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, provided by Debbie Whitehurst, executive assistant to the Liberty County administrator and commissioners.

During the commission meeting, Chairman John McIver acknowledged that he does not plan to seek re-election next year.

District 2 Commissioner Donald Lovette congratulated McIver on his 31 years of public service and also used the meeting to announce he plans to run for chairman this year.

“Unless the Lord says differently, I will be aspiring to run for that seat, be the chairman of the county commission this year,” Lovette said.

Presidential preference elections on March 6 are the first being held this year, followed by a July 31 general primary, nonpartisan and special election and the Nov. 6 general election, where a president and congressional representatives will be elected.

Advanced voting for the presidential preference primary begins Feb. 13 at the Liberty County Elections Center on Memorial Drive in Hinesville and at the former Midway City Hall site, according to Golden.

Nonpartisan Superior Court judge positions current held by David L. Cavender, Charles Rose and Robert Russell will be filled in the July 31 General Primary Election, according to the Georgia Secretary of State website, www.sos.ga.gov.
Superior Court judges serve four-year terms.

U.S. Congressional Representatives, including Jack Kingston, R-Savannah, serve two-year terms and are elected every even-numbered year, according to www.house.gov.

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