Qualifying now underway, ends Friday

Qualifying for public offices opened at 9 a.m. today and will conclude at noon this Friday.
A new law passed by the Georgia General Assembly condensed the qualifying period from a week to three days.
Democratic candidates are being qualified at The Cairo Messenger and Republican candidates are being qualified at the offices of Hester Insurance Agency.
Local offices up for election this year include: sheriff, probate judge, chief magistrate, clerk of court, tax commissioner, coroner, county commissioners from Districts 1, 3 and 4 as well as school board members from Districts 1, 3 and 4.
Candidates who have made public their plans to qualify include incumbents Sheriff Harry Young, Clerk of Court Debbie Kines, Tax Commissioner Phyllis Gainous, Chief Magistrate Larry Bearden, District 1 County Commissioner Elwyn Childs, and District 3 Board of Education Member Allen Jenkins.
Probate Court Clerk Denise Maddox and city of Cairo communications director Celeste Tyler have said they will qualify for election to judge of the Grady County Probate Court. This race is non-partisan contest.
Cairo banker Marty Cannington plans to challenge Jenkins for the District 3 Board of Education post.
Local plumber Darren Moore and city of Cairo Energy Services employee Jeff Worsham plan to qualify for the District 1 Board of Education seat being vacated by Cuy Harrell III.
Community activist and Democratic party chair LaFaye Copeland has said she would qualify for District 4 County Commissioner, the seat currently held by Al Ball, who says he plans to retire from the commission.
Former Grady County chief deputy Jerome Smiley and retired law enforcement officer Odell Jolly have announced plans to qualify to run for sheriff.
Visit cairomessenger.com for updates on qualifying during the week and for a complete wrap up see the May 30 edition of The Cairo Messenger.