BOE race most-crowded in Hall

GAINESVILLE - When qualifying ended in Gainesville Friday for the July 18 primaries, the most crowded field of candidates was in the race to fill Doug Calvert's seat on the Hall County School Board.

Duane Jones was the latest to enter the race. Jones will seek the Republican nomination along with Sam Chapman; the lone Democrat in the race is Martha Turner Mays, who faces no primary opposition.

Lori Thompson is giving up her South Hall seat on the school board and it has attracted two candidates: Pamela Graham and Brian Sloan. Richards Higgins, the At-Large member of the school board, will apparently be returning to office, as will county commissioner Steve Gailey. Neither drew any opposition.

There are two Republicans running to replace Deborah Lynn on the county commission: Bobby Banks and Kathy Cooper. No Democrats offered for the post.