Tift County election features four races

TIFTON -- Several unopposed incumbents seeking re-election and two people new to the political arena qualified to run on the July 20 General Primary election ballot before the deadline at noon Friday.

Tift County Probate Court Judge Lillian Radford is not seeking re-election to her post. Suzanne Carter Johnson, chief clerk in Radford's office for more than three years, qualified to run as a Republican to run for the post.

Frankie L. Mathis and Melissa Hughes Chevers, both Democrats, are vying for the Tift County Commission's (TCC) District 2 seat currently held by Daughtry Melton, who is running for the commission's chairmanship. Melton and Hayward Fowler qualified as Democrats and are seeking the seat of chairman of the TCC currently held by Buddy Bryan, who announced earlier this year that he wouldn't seek re-election. The winner of their July primary will face Republican Grady Thompson in November.

Andy Cross and Liz Carson Keith will face each other on the Republican ballot in hopes of filling the Tift County Board of Education (BOE) District 7 seat currently held by Joseph Carter, who announced in the fall that he will complete his term on the board as he campaigns for the Georgia Senate District 13 seat. Republican Erick Willis is unopposed in his bid for re-election to his BOE District 3 seat.

Republican Gwen C. Pate is unopposed and will keep her seat as Clerk of Superior Court. Republican Gary Vowell is also unopposed in his bid for re-election as Tift County's sheriff.

Harriette Rowe, current TCC District 5, is challenged by fellow Democrat Fred W. "Buck" Rigdon Jr.

Other unopposed Democratic candidates include Betty Parson, BOE District 1; Doug Jones, Chief Magistrate; Gene Goode, Tift County Tax Commissioner; and Joe Beaumont, Coroner.