Tuesday March 19th, 2024 4:18AM

More attempted political comebacks set for Nov. 3; Clermont special election likely in March

By Ken Stanford Contributing Editor

As the books closed on qualifying for the Nov. 3 city elections Friday,the number of former office-holders seeking a political comeback in northeast Georgia increased. 

In Baldwin, former Councilman Ray Holcomb is challenging Dustin Mealor for Post 1, while former longtime Councilman Robert Bohannon (with about 30 years of service to the city) is challenging incumbent Theron Ayers for the Post 2 seat.

In Demorest, former Councilwoman Florence Wikle has qualified to challenge incumbent Donnie Bennett and longtime incumbent John Popham for one of their at-large seats on city council. Additionally, Rebecca Shedd has qualified in that race.

In Tallulah Falls, former Councilman Dan Hayes has qualified to challenge Mayor Carl Seaman.

HALL COUNTY

Earlier in the week. former Hall County Clerk of Courts Dwight Wood qualified to run for a seat on the Oakwood City Council.  He was the only candidate to sign up for that post. 

Meanwhile, qualifying closed Friday in Flowery Branch with each office that will be on the ballot featuring two candidates.  Incumbent Chris Mundy will face-off against Michael Just and councilwoman Mary Jones will be challenged by Mark Wilson.

Qualifying also closed Friday for the elections in Gillsville. Incumbents Todd Dale and Greg Ferguson will run unopposed and Samuel Wade Dale is the only candidate for the council seat now held by Rudess Hooper.

The races drawing the largest number of candidates are the ones for the Gainesville City Council seat being vacated by Myrtle Figueras and the District One post in Lula, where Larry Shuler is the incumbent.  Each of those races will feature four candidates. 

Meanwhile, Clermont City Clerk Sandra Helton said Friday it now looks like the special city council election there will be held after the first of the year.   The election is necessary because no one qualified for the post now held by John Brady when qualifying closed Wednesday.   The city attorney advised the next day that a special election would have to be held.

"I don't have a date yet as I am still waiting on the attorney to get this information to me" Helton said Friday, "but its looking like we will hold a special election in March and have qualifying in late December or January."

(Click here http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/9/333545/six-candidates-qualify-for-2-seats-on-gainesville-city-council-clermont-left-with-no-candidate-for-one-post for a story posted after qualifying closed in several cities on Wednesday.)

(AccessWDUN's Rob Moore contributed to this story.)

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News, Politics
  • Associated Tags: Special Election, clermont, Nov. 3 election, city councils, political comebacks
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