Commerce voters will learn next week what their choices will be in the Nov. 8 elections in which they’ll select a new mayor and fill three city council and three board of education seats.
Qualifying begins Monday at 8:30 a.m. and continues through Friday, Sept. 2, at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Positions to be filled include: mayor, currently held by Charles L. “Buzzie” Hardy Jr.; city council seats in Ward 3, currently held by Mark Fitzpatrick; Ward 4, currently held by Clark Hill; and Ward 5, currently held by Johnny Eubanks; and school board seats in District 3, currently held by Bill Davis; District 4, currently held by Rodney Gary; and District 5, currently held by Paul Sergent, who serves as chairman.
All positions are for four years.
The qualifying fees, set by law, are as follows: mayor, $126; city council, $81; for school board, $72.
Hardy, who is completing his 22nd year, has announced that he will not seek re-election, and Hill has announced that he will run for mayor. Chris Bulls and Steve Perry announced last week plans to seek the Ward 4 seat on the city council.
Elsewhere
Qualifying also starts Monday for other municipal elections throughout Northeast Georgia including:
Jefferson: Qualifying will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29, through Friday, Sept. 2 at City Hall. The qualifying fee is $75. Open seats include District 1 (currently held by Steve Kinney), District 3 (currently held by C.D. Kidd III), and District 5 (currently held by Roy W. Plott).
Maysville: Qualifying will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning on Monday, Aug. 29, and ending on Wednesday, Aug. 31, in the office of the city clerk/election superintendent, 226 South Main Street, Maysville. Positions to be filled include mayor, (currently held by Jerry Baker), Ward 1, (currently held by Clay Dorsey), Ward 2, (currently held by Lynn Villyard), Ward 3 (vacant) and Ward 4, (currently held by Stephan Lewis). The qualifying fee is $75 for mayor and $30 for city council.
Nicholson: Qualifying will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., Monday, Aug. 29, through Wednesday, Aug. 31, in the city clerk/election superintendent’s office at 175 Lakeview Drive. Qualifying is open for the mayor’s position (currently held by Ronnie Maxwell) and two council seats (currently held by Lamar Watkins and Chuck Wheeler). The qualifying fee is $144 for mayor and $72 for city council.
