Sheriff Hannah faces rematch with former Deputy Babb, Tax Commissioner Wingo gets competition
Qualifying in Fayette County ended at noon on Friday. That said, there are several local races destined to see competition in the July 31 primary. Those include the Fayette County Board of Education Post 1 and Post 2 races and the contest for sheriff and tax commissioner.
The Post 2 school board qualifiers included Mercer University professor Mary Kay Bacallao, of Brandenburg Way south of Fayetteville, and consultant Gary Griffin, of Grindstone Way, also in south Fayette but with a Senoia mailing address. Both qualified on the Republican ticket.
Post 2 incumbent Terri Smith did qualify, but this time around she ditched the Republican Party and qualified as a Democrat. Smith of south Fayette previously won three school board elections as a Republican.
Qualifiers for the Fayette County Board of Education Post 1 seat include Ga. Tech professor and Tyrone resident Barry Marchman and Peachtree City resident Scott Hollowell, who works at financial services company LPL Financial in Peachtree City. Post 1 12-year incumbent Janet Smola of Tyrone released a statement this past week stating that she would not be seeking reelection.
And for the Post 3 school board seat, which covers much of Peachtree City, incumbent Marion Key was the only qualifier.
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. It will be 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.
The race for Fayette County Tax Commissioner will be a competitive race [Corrected] as both challenger Lee Ann Bartlett and incumbent George Wingo added their names to the list.
Fayette County Superior Court Clerk Sheila Studdard was the lone qualifier for the clerk’s position.
In other races, Fayette County Probate Judge Ann Jackson, State Court Solicitor General Jamie Inagawa and Coroner C.J. Mowell were the only ones to qualify for those races.
