Geraldine Hudley, Rick Muggridge among final-day qualifiers

ALBANY — In what turned out to be a smaller-than-expected flurry of last-day election qualifying activity, Geraldine West Hudley signed on to challenge Susie Ealum for the at-large seat on the Dougherty County School Board and Lee County Commission Chairman Rick Muggridge qualified for a return to his seat, as expected.

In races that will be decided in the May 24 Democratic primary, Ealum and Hudley, a retired educator, will face off for the seat on the School Board vacated by Lane Price. District 5 Dougherty County Commissioner Harry James is the only one of three incumbent county commissioners who drew opposition for his seat as the person he replaced on the board, Gloria Gaines, qualified to challenge James.

Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler will also have to campaign to retain his seat, as he is challenged by Dorchester “Pete” Johnson, Hudley’s son.

“I believe there are so many opportunities to move this county forward, and I believe very strongly that I can help make them happen,” Gaines said. “This community prepared me for a good life, and I want to pay it forward for the young people in our community.”

Gaines did not respond to comments by James, who said when he learned of Gaines’ candidacy that she’d abandoned the citizens of District 5 in an attempt to claim more prestige for herself in a failed run for the commission’s chairmanship in 2014.

“I won’t comment on that, I’ll just say that I plan to work very hard to win back this seat,” she said. “I won’t say that there are things that aren’t getting proper attention in the county, but I will say there are issues I want to be a part of. And the top of that list is job creation. We’ve got to do more to attract economic development and jobs, jobs, jobs.

“I will say I think that Harry and I share a common interest in making our community better.”

Three members of the region’s state legislative delegation drew opposition for their planned return to Atlanta. Republican House 151 Rep. Gerald Greene will be challenged in the Nov. 8 general election by Democratic qualifier James Williams, while House District 153 incumbent Darrel Ealum will face the challenges of former Dougherty County Commissioner Muarlean Edwards and Antonio Screen in the Democratic primary.

Leesburg Republican Ed Rynders will square off with perennial candidate Mary Egler in the May 24 primary.

State District 12 Sen. Freddie Powell Sims and House District 154 Rep. Winfred Dukes, both Democrats, qualified to return to their seats without opposition.

Dougherty County qualifiers who will have no opposition in their quest for office include Sheriff Kevin Sproul, County Commissioners Clinton Johnson and Lamar Hudgins in districts 3 and 1, respectively, Clerk of Court Evonne Mull, and Dougherty School Board members Velvet Riggins (District 3), James Bush (District 5) and Robert Youngblood (District 1). All but Hudgins are Democrats.

In Lee County, Muggridge, who serves District 4, and Sheriff Reggie Rachals head a long list of incumbents who drew no opposition during week-long qualifying. Others include Coroner Ronald Rowe, Clerk of Superior Court Sara Reeves, District 2 County Commissioner Luke Singletary, Chief Magistrate James Thurman, and Board of Education members William Griffin in District 5, Claire Lang in District 2 and Sylvia Vann in District 4.

Former District 5 Commissioner Bill Williams will challenge newcomer Lee Johnston for that seat, which was vacated by Greg Frich, and Tax Commissioner Susan Smith is being challenged by Thomas Goodwin. The race for Probate Court judge has drawn a field that includes Gail Drake, Miles O’Quinn, Jeffery Kirt and Melanie Gahring. All of the candidates qualified as Republicans.

In Worth County, incumbent Sheriff Jeff Hobby will be challenged by Charlie Fortson in the Republican primary. The winner of that matchup will face Democrat Tracy Jones in the general election.