Eight candidates for office in Polk County Sheriff, Polk County Board of Commissioners, Clerk of Court and Polk County Board of Education have officially put their names on the ballot since filing began Monday at noon.
Sheriff candidates Donald Hill (D), Nathan Shields (R) and Gregg OSteen (R) each made their candidacy official.
The first commissioner candidates to file were incumbent Ray Gasperson (D) and Ricky McFalls (D). There are three seats open for commissioner with Gasperson, Tommy Melton (independent) and Warren Watson (D) up for re-election. Melton changed his affiliation from Democrat to Unaffiliated last year and will have to have petitions signed in order to file as an Unaffiliated candidate.
Incumbent Polk County Clerk of Court Charlene Owens (D) also filed Monday. No challengers had filed for that office as of yesterday.
Incumbent school board candidates who have filed include Geoff Tennant (Columbus), Judy Jackson (Coopers Gap) and Sherry Page (Green Creek). The Tryon seat held by James Cowan is also open.
Filing ends at noon on Feb. 26 for the local seats. The deadline for residents to register or change affiliations is April 9, although registration can also be done during one-stop voting which begins on April 15 prior to a May 4 primary.
The regular election will be held on Nov. 2.