Eighteen seek county offices
Eighteen candidates have entered Burke County's political arena.

During last week's qualifying, six Republicans and 12 Democrats pledged to run for 11 vacating seats.

While most of the candidates won't see any opposition until the election crosses party lines on Nov. 4, two races will be decided in the July 15 general primary.

Republicans Wayne Crocket (incumbent) and Lee Bacino will battle it out July 15 for the District 3 commission seat. Originally, the winner was expected to face Democrat Beverly Hoskins-Jones in November, but she withdrew from the race late last week. According to Democratic Party officials, she has a civil service job and was unable to obtain necessary clearance in time to run.

The race for Magistrate Judge will also be decided this summer. With no Republican candidates, Democrats Al Bell, Sterling Wimberly and Freddie Yelton will face off in July.

Five candidates, all incumbents, are unopposed. They include Clerk of Courts Sherri Cochran, Tax Commissioner Cynthia McManus, Probate Judge Preston Lewis III, District 1 Commissioner Lucious Abrams and District 2 Commissioner Alphonso Andrews.

Qualifying for the non-partisan offices of State Court Judge and two board of education seats will begin June 23.

	Republican Democrat
Sheriff	Curt St. Germaine Greg Coursey
Magistrate Judge	Alvin Bell
	Sterling Wimberly
	Freddie Yelton
Clerk of Courts	Sherri Cochran
Tax Commissioner	Cynthia McManus
Probate Judge	Preston Lewis III
Coroner	Betty White R. Lee Webster Jr.
Commissioner
District 1	Lucious Abrams
District 2	Alphonso Andrews
District 3	Wayne Crockett
	Lee Bacino
District 4	Allen DeLaigle Clinton Bates
District 5	Henry Tinley Richard Daniels