Qualifying to begin for party primaries

By Alison James

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

For those planning to run for a local office in the March primary, the time to qualify is now or soon approaching.

The Democratic Party will open qualifying Oct. 24, according to Executive Committee President Brian Hamilton. The committee will meet on that day at 9 a.m. at the Franklin County Courthouse, and all those who intend to run for public office, as well as the community, are invited to attend.

Republican qualifying, on the other hand, is open now. Qualifying began Monday, according to Jerry Mays, president for the Franklin County Republican Executive Committee.

Qualifying will continue through Nov. 6 at 5 p.m.

Hamilton listed the following qualifying fees: county commissioner, $350; Board of Education, $250; superintendent, $1,000; and constable, $25.

Mays stated the qualifying fee equals 2 percent of the annual salary of the office being sought by the candidate.

For more information, contact Hamilton at 256-332-1660 or Mays at 256-810-2551 or Republican state committee member Lowell Moore at 256-324-8698.

The state and local primary will be held March 1.