Hinesville is set to have the most-active local election season, with qualifying producing contested races for all but one City Council seat and five candidates qualifying for mayor.
With Jim Thomas not running for re-election, the open mayor’s seat has drawn a lot of interest. The following five candidates will appear on the ballot for the Nov. 3 election: Tyrone Adams, Allen Brown, Danny Eason, Charles Frasier and Liston Singletary III.
The Hinesville City Council race that attracted the most attention is an open seat, District 3, with three qualified candidates: Vicky Nelson, Arthur Nixon and Joseph B. Stuart.
In District 1, currently held by Frasier, Diana F. Reid and Cathey Winn will face each other. District 2 Councilman Jason Floyd faces a challenger, Andrew Williams. District 5 Councilman Kenneth Shaw also drew a challenger, Angela Wilson. The only current council member who is running unopposed is Keith Jenkins in District 4.
All Liberty County municipalities except Flemington and Midway are holding elections this year, as is Ludowici in Long County. Here is a list of all qualified candidates in the municipalities other than Hinesville:
Allenhurst
• Mayor, Thomas Hines (incumbent)
• City Council, John Horne (incumbent), Carl Easton (incumbent) and James Willis (incumbent)
Gum Branch
• Mayor, Troy C. O’Neal Jr.
•City Council, Charles Simpson (incumbent), Jimmy R. Chandler, Richard Strickland and Jesse Strickland (incumbent)
Riceboro
• Mayor, William T. Austin (incumbent)
• City Council: David Miller (incumbent), Charlie Jones Sr., Christopher Stacy (incumbent) and Tommy M. Williams Sr. (incumbent).
Walthourville
• Mayor, Daisy S. Pray (incumbent) and Carrie K. Anderson
• City Council, Post 1, Patricia A Green (incumbent)
• City Council, Post 2, Charlie Anderson Sr. (incumbent)
• City Council, Post 3, Sarah B. Hayes (incumbent), Larry D. Baker and Sadaetirs Karen Smith
• City Council, Post 4, Luciria L. Lovette (incumbent)
• City Council, Post 5, James Hendry (incumbent) and Vincent K. Pray
Ludowici
• Mayor, James Fuller (incumbent) and Robert Parker
• City Council, District 1, Mary Hamilton (incumbent)
• City Council, District 2, Mark Chesser (incumbent)
• City Council, District 3, Jim Fuller Jr. (incumbent)
• City Council, District 4, Kathy Phillips (incumbent)
• City Council, District 5, Gwen Davis (incumbent)