Democrat signs up to challenge Dempsey

Qualifying continues through noon Friday.

Qualifying will continue through noon Friday for the May 22 elections.

Rome insurance agent John Burnette II qualified Tuesday as a Democrat to challenge Republican incumbent Katie Dempsey for the state House District 13 seat.

Amy Mendes of the Floyd County Democratic Party said she expects to see several more challengers emerge this week to run against local incumbents, who are all Republicans.

The qualifying period runs through noon Friday for the May 22 primaries and nonpartisan general election.

Three county commission seats and two on the county board of education are up for grabs this year, along with two nonpartisan judgeships on the Superior Court and one on Juvenile Court.

Attorney Emily Matson qualified Tuesday for the Superior Court seat being vacated by Chief Judge Tami Colston. Kay Ann Wetherington also is seeking the seat.

Statewide, there are a host of openings from governor to labor commissioner — and all the Georgia General Assembly posts.

Candidates for Congress, the General Assembly, other courts and statewide offices qualify in Atlanta with their parties or the secretary of state’s office at the state capitol.

Locally, Democrats are registering at the Salter Law Firm, 242 N. Fifth Ave., and Republicans are signing up at the law office of David Guldenschuh, 512 E. First St.

Candidates for the nonpartisan Juvenile Court judge seat qualify with the Floyd County Elections Office, 12 E. Fourth Ave.