Candidates come out of woodwork for Jasper city races

No challengers means no election in Talking Rock

            A surprisingly large number of candidates qualified in local municipal races, which will be on the ballot this November.

            In Jasper, two candidates qualified to run for mayor. Current Jasper Mayor Steve Lawrence announced he will not seek reelection because of a recent cancer diagnosis.

            One Jasper city council post has a crowded field of four candidates, more than any local seat in recent history.

            In addition to the three Nelson council incumbents who qualified, three other candidates qualified in that race. Elections in the city of Nelson are at-large, meaning the top three vote-getters take office because there are three council seats up for election.

            The election for Talking Rock was cancelled because all candidates who qualified are running unopposed.

            Only residents of Jasper and Nelson city limits will be able vote on Election Day November 7.

            The following candidates qualified at the Pickens County Elections & Registration Office last week (Profession and number of years the candidate has resided in Pickens County, as listed on the qualifying application, follow the name):         

City of Jasper

            Mayor- Jasper City Council member Kirk Raffield (Sales/30 years in Pickens County) and Lora Erdman (Manager of Family Dollar and Forest Glenn Apartments/32)

            City Council Post 3 – Brandon Hannah (Kaiser Workforce Health Consultant/5)

            City Council Post 4 – Incumbent James A. “Jim” Looney (Retired/40) and Dorian Gibson (Retired/10)

            City Council Post 5 – Incumbent John B. Foust (Ga. Power Engineer/33) Bethsadia Fernandez (True South Roofing and Exteriors LLC/6), Anthony W. Young II (Sales/27), and Shirley Mitchell (Not Listed/10).

            Foust currently serves as the Post 3 council member but registered to run in Post 5.

City of Nelson

            City Council – Incumbents Krissy MacNeill (Landscaper/24), Nathan Hamby (Mechanic/36), and David Hamby (Grader/59), as well as challengers John Ahlberg (Rector/15), Michael Brown (16), and Michael Haviland (Retired/10). Haviland has previously served as a council member and mayor of Nelson.

Town of Talking Rock

Note no election will be held with incumbents facing no challengers.

Mayor – Incumbent James W. Bryant, Jr. (Program Management/11)

Town Council Post 3 – Incumbent Mary Bregantini (Retired/3.5)

Town Council Post 5 – Incumbent Lynda Cagle (Retired/24)