Smola won’t run in BoE race, Wingo gets competition for tax commissioner

Qualifying in Fayette County does not end until Friday at noon. That said, there are several local races destined to see competition in July 31 primary. As of late afternoon Thursday, those include the Fayette County Board of Education Post 2 race and the contest for sheriff and tax commissioner.

Qualifiers for the Fayette County Board of Education Post 1 seat include Ga. Tech professor and Tyrone resident Barry Marchman and financial adviser and Peachtree City resident Scott Hollowell. Post 1 12-year incumbent Janet Smola released a statement this week stating that she will not be seeking reelection.

The Post 2 school board qualifiers as of Thursday afternoon included south Fayette resident and Mercer University professor Mary Kay Bacallao and south Fayette resident and consultant Gary Griffin.

And for the Post 3 seat, incumbent Marion Key was the only qualifier by late afternoon.

Qualifying for the three seats on the Fayette County Commission has been postponed until next week by order of U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Jr.

There were two qualifiers for the sheriff’s race by 3 p.m. Thursday. It’s a rematch of the 2008 election for sheriff featuring former Fayette Deputy Barry Babb, currently with the Atlanta Police Dept., and incumbent Wayne Hannah. The two dueled in a crowded field four years ago for the open post that Hannah won without a runoff.

Fayette County Superior Court Clerk Sheila Studdard was the lone qualifier for the clerk’s position.

The race for Fayette County Tax Commissioner will be a race after all with both Lee Ann Bartlett and incumbent George Wingo added their names to the list.

In other races, Fayette County Probate Judge Ann Jackson and State Court Solicitor General Jamie Inagawa were the only ones to qualify for those races.

The qualifying period ends Friday at noon.