Published: January 04, 2008 05:48 pm      

Primary candidates file; ballot positions decided next week

By Kelly Young

kyoung@jacksonvilleprogress.com

A number of Cherokee County citizens filed their paperwork for candidacy at the last minute Wednesday afternoon, filling in some of the gaps on the November ballots. Now that the filing deadline has come and gone, the candidates now know what opposition they will have to overcome in order to get elected to public office.

Both local political parties found someone to run for the county’s tax assessor position, which prior to Wednesday did not have any candidates. Republican Linda Little and Democrat Debbie Shreve both filed Wednesday for the position being vacated by Linda Beard, who has chosen not to seek re-election. Shreve and Little both currently work in the county’s tax assessor’s office — Shreve out of the office’s Jacksonville branch and Little as assistant auditor.

Republicans Daniel Childs, for district judge, and Jake Carter, for constable of Precinct 2, also handed in their paperwork just before the deadline. Childs will now face off against current district judge Dwight Phifer. Out of the 11 races in Cherokee County, Precinct 2 constable is the only one that will require both primaries and the November elections.

Carter and Jack White will compete in the Republican Primary for the right to battle the winner of the Mark Green/Jeremy Jackson Democratic Primary.

Jamie Beene will be running for constable of Precinct 4 rather than Precinct 2, as was previously reported. Beene will attempt to block Joe Self’s bid for re-election.

James Campbell (running for sheriff), Elmer Beckworth (district attorney), Craig Caldwell (county attorney), Lynn Kelley (constable for Precinct 1) and Eddie Lee (constable for Precinct 3) were the only individuals to file for their respective positions, and as such will run unopposed in November.

Democrat Caesar Roy and Republican Josie D. Schoolcraft both filed for chairperson of their parties — neither face opposition.

The Cherokee County Republican Party Committee will meet 6 p.m. Monday at King’s Wok Chinese Restaurant in order to hold a drawing to determine ballot placement. Details of the Democratic Party’s drawing have not been determined, but Roy said it will probably occur in the next few days on the steps of the county courthouse.

Early voting will be from Feb. 19 to Feb. 29. The party primaries will take place March 4.

Here is a finalized list of the candidates who filed for office in Cherokee County:



Position Democrat Republican

Sheriff — James Campbell



District judge Dwight Phifer Daniel Childs



District atty. Elmer Beckworth —



County atty. Craig Caldwell —



Tax assessor Deborah Shreve Linda Little



Pct. 1 Comm. — Kelly Traylor,

James Bacon Sr.,

Kevin Lankford



Pct. 3 Comm. Moody Glass, l Katherine Pinotti

Randy Bonner,

F.E. Hassel



Pct. 1 Const. — Lynn Kelley



Pct. 2 Const. Mark Green, Jack White, Jeremy Jackson Jake Carter



Pct. 3 Const. — Eddie Lee



Pct. 4 Const. Joe Self, —

Jamie Beene