Early voting gets underway Monday morning

Voting takes
place at three
different locations
Early voting in the Nov. 7 municipal elections in Cairo and Whigham as well as the special election for the District 1 Grady County Commission post gets underway Monday.
In Cairo, the early voting will take place at the Grady County Board of Registrars Office located at 24 Third Ave. N.E. Voting begins Monday at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 4:30 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 3. There will not be a day of Saturday voting for any of the elections this cycle, according to local elections officials.
There are only two contested races on the Cairo city ballot. The election for mayor features Hansell Bearden and Booker T. Gainor. In the District 2 city council race, incumbent Ernest W. Cloud Jr., is being challenged by Demario J. Byrden. District 4 Councilman James H. (Jimmy) Douglas drew no opposition and is automatically elected to another four-year term.
In Whigham, the advanced voting takes place at the Whigham City Hall. Voting hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 3.
Incumbent Whigham Mayor George Trulock is running unopposed and will serve another term. However, for the first time in over a decade there is a contested race for the Whigham City Council. The top five vote-getters will serve on the Whigham council. Candidates are: Travis Brinson, Dusty Brown, David Trey Gainous, Kay Hash, Ashley Lee King, Jim Sellers, and Joel Singletary.
Early voting for the Grady County Commission District 1 post will be held at the Grady County Courthouse, 250 North Broad Street beginning at 8:30 a.m. next Monday.
Hours for advanced voting will be 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday through Friday, Nov. 3.
Candidates seeking to replace veteran Commissioner Elwyn Childs, who resigned last month due to health issues, are June Duke Knight, Earle Jeter, Richard Jordan and Frank Jones.
Registration books for the upcoming elections closed Tuesday.
Local political candidates will air their views and answer questions during political forums that will be aired live on WGRA-790-AM.
Jeff Lovett, host of the forums, says the first one will feature the two candidates for Mayor of Cairo and take place Tuesday, Oct. 17 beginning at 7 p.m.
Candidates for the Grady County Commission District 1 seat will participate in a forum on Tuesday, Oct. 24 beginning at 7 p.m.
The forums take place in the Grady Room of Roddenbery Memorial Library. They are broadcast live on the radio and the public is invited to attend in person and ask questions of the candidates. Forums for other races have not yet been set.