Paris, Tenn.–The Henry County Election Commission was an especially busy place today as noon was the deadline for candidates to file for the May primary and for qualifying Independents to file for the August state and county general election.
A long list of candidates—more than most election watchers remember locally—filed for office.
Even before the elections, it is clear there will be changes on the Henry County Commission, with Don Jones, James Copeland, Kreg Kyle not filing for reelection. Long-time Commissioner Jones had announced after last month’s commission meeting he would not be running again.
Candidates filing for the May Republican primary are:
County Commissioner, District 1:
James Eichel
Ricky Wade
County Commissioner, District 2:
Jeffery Baker
Tess Robbins
James Ralph Wiles
County Commissioner, District 3:
Incumbent Jerry Berry
Missy Hamilton
Incumbent Monte Starks
Incumbent Marty Visser
County Commissioner District 5
Patrick Burns
County Mayor:
Tim Wirgau
(As we reported earlier today, former State Rep. Tim Wirgau filed for the office of County Mayor. He will face Incumbent County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway in the August general election).
District Attorney 24th Districts
Incumbent Matt Stowe
Neil Thompson
General Sessions Judge
Chad Cox
Public Defender
Tas Gardner
Sheriff
Josh Frey
Chancellor 24th Judicial District
Vicki Hoover Ainley
Circuit Court Judge 24th District Part 1:
Brent Bradberry
Circuit Court Judge 24th District Part 2:
Vance Dennis
Bruce Griffey
Terry Leonard
Qualifying Independent Candidates filing for the August general election are:
County Mayor:
Incumbent John Penn Ridgeway
Circuit Court Clerk:
Incumbent Mike Wilson
County Clerk:
Incumbent Donna Craig
Register of Deeds:
Pam Martin
General Sessions Judge:
Incumbent Vicki Snyder
County Trustee:
Incumbent Randi French
County Commission:
District 1:
Daniel Bowden
Incumbent Wes Bradley
Incumbent Randy Gean
Melissa Bucy McElroy
Steve O’Brien
District 2:
Charles Elizondo
Incumbent Paul Neal
Incumbent Drew Williams
District 4:
James Benau (Democratic caucus candidate)
Incumbent Dell Carter
David Hayes
Incumbent Kenneth Humphreys
District 5:
Torrance Atkinson
Incumbent Greg Carter
Incumbent James Travis
Incumbent David Webb
Henry County Schools board:
District 4:
Nikki Bobo (Democratic caucus candidate)
District 2:
Nella Dooley (Democratic caucus candidate)
Joseph Russell Wiles
School board members—for both the PSSD and Henry County Schools board have until April 7 to qualify.