Polls open Tuesday

ALBANY — For most candidates, we have neared the end.

Tuesday, voters will flock to precincts across Albany and Dougherty County to pull a Democratic or Republican ticket and vote on a number of races and issues on the ballot.

For those who need more information on where to vote or the voting process, call the Dougherty County Elections Office at (229) 431-3247 or visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s “My Voter Page” at http://www.sos.ga.gov/mvp.

Regardless of party, voters will be able to cast a ballot for a candidate for State Court judge. Magistrate Victoria Darrisaw and attorney Christopher Warren are running to fill the seat being vacated at the end of the year by retiring State Court Judge John Salter. The regional referendum on the special-purpose local-option sales tax for transportation also appears on all ballots.

Republican ballot

Republican voters in Dougherty County have only one contested race on their ballots Tuesday.

GOP Candidates Rick Allen, Ken DeLoach and John House are facing to see who will challenge U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, in November.

Allen is a small business owner from Columbus, DeLoach is a farmer and bishop in the Church of God from Macon and House is a retired Army colonel, businessman and author from Midland.

To win outright, one of the candidates will have to garner a simple majority in the GOP ballots cast in the 2nd Congressional District. If no one claims a majority, the top two finishers will meeting again in a runoff Aug. 21 to determine who will challenge Bishop in the Nov. 6 General Election.

Democratic ballot

Dougherty Democrats will have several contests to decide.

One of the more high profile races is that of at-large School Board member. Incumbent Anita Williams-Brown is being challenged by Dr. Lane Price.

Dougherty County Coroner Emma Quimbley is seeking a third term in office while challenger Michael Fowler, a certified mortician, is making his first run for the post.

In State House District 153, which is entirely within Dougherty County, state Rep. Carol Fullerton is seeking her third two-year term in the Legislature while Dougherty County Commissioner Muarlean Edwards seeks her first opportunity at the state-level office.

Edwards’ District 3 seat on the Dougherty County Commission District 3 will be filled by one of two political newcomers — Clinton Johnson or Louise Primrose.

Johnson is a youth coordinator for 2nd Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church and Primrose is a retired nurse.

T-SPLOST

A referendum on both Republican and Democratic ballots is the question for the controversial T-SPLOST.

If passed by a majority of the voters in Region 10, which includes the five-county Albany Metropolitan Statistical Area, this 1 percent sales tax will go to fund an estimated $530 million worth of regional and local-level projects over its 10-year life.

QUESTIONS

Voters will also be asked to answer straw-poll questions posed by their respective parties.

Democrats are being asked:

— Whether the state Constitution should be amended to allow the state to override local school boards on the establishment of charter schools;

— Whether the practice of allowing state legislators to accepted unlimited gifts from lobbyists should be ended;

— Whether georgia should adopt an income tax credit for home energy costs;

— Whether the state should reduce sales taxes on made-in-georgia products to promote smal business growth in the state.

Republicans are being asked:

— Whether casino gambling should be allowed with proceeds going to education;

— Whether a $100 cap should be imposed on lobbyists’ gifts to state legislators;

— Whether active duty military personnel under age 21 should be allowed to obtain a state weapons license;

— Whether Georgia voters should be required to register a political party affiliation by 30 days before a primary election;

— Whether the Georgia Constitution should be amended to provide that the right to life is vested in each human from his or her earliest biological beginning.