Primary elections on tap Tuesday

Two voting precincts in Jackson County have changed locations.

Voters in the Newtown (Nicholson) precinct will now vote at the Nicholson Community Center, located at 129 Lakeview Drive. Previously, voting for Newtown was held at the Harold S. Swindle Public Library.

Voters in the North Jefferson Precinct will vote at the Jefferson Parks and Recreation Department, located at 2495 Old Pendergrass Road, Jefferson. Previously, voting for North Jefferson was held at the Jefferson Fire Department II.

Early voting will continue through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Administrative Building and the satellite voting precincts in Commerce and Braselton.

The runoff election will be held Tuesday, Aug. 10.

In the BOE District 5 race, Steven Bryant and Randall Skelton are on the ballot. Incumbent Jill McEver is not seeking re-election.

The State Senate District 47 seat that covers Jackson County will also be on the ballot. Those to qualify were Doug Bower, Shane Coley, Kelley Gary, and Frank Ginn, all Republicans, and Tim Riley, a Democrat. Incumbent Ralph Hudgens (R) is running for state insurance commissioner.

In the State Senate District 49 seat that covers a portion of Jackson County, Butch Miller and Jimmy Norman, both Republicans, qualified.

Most of the action Tuesday is geared at filling statewide positions, including the offices of governor and lieutenant governor. Those running include:

•Governor: Jeff Chapman, (R) Alpharetta; Nathan Deal, (R) Gainesville; Karen Handel, (R) Alpharetta; Eric Johnson, (R) Atlanta; Ray McBerry, (R) McDonough; John Oxendine, (R) Norcross; Otis Putnam, (R) Brunswick; Thurbert Baker, (D) Atlanta; Roy Barnes, (D) Marietta; Bill Bolton, (D) Marietta; Carl Camon, (D) Ray City; Randall Mangham, (D) Decatur; DuBose Porter, (D) Dublin; David Poythress, (D) Atlanta.

•Lieutenant governor: Casey Cagle, (R) incumbent, Gainesville; Tricia Carpenter McCracken, (D) Augusta; Carol Porter, (D) Atlanta.

•Attorney general: Sam Olens, (R) Marietta; Preston W. Smith, (R) Rome; Max Wood, (R) Macon; Ken Hodges, (D) Smyrna; Rob Teilhet, (D) Smyrna.

•State superintendent of schools: John D. Barge, (R) Rome; Richard Woods, (R) Tifton; Beth Farokhi, (D) Marietta; Joe Martin, (D) Atlanta; Brian Westlake, (D) Decatur.

•Commissioner of Agriculture: Gary Black, (R) Commerce; Darwin Carter, (R) Alma; J.B. Powell, (D) Blythe.

•Labor commissioner: Mark Butler, (R) Carrollton; Melvin Everson, (R) Snellville; Terry Coleman, (D) Eastman; Darryl Hicks, (D) Fayetteville.