Pre-qualifying for candidates wishing to file by fee is underway this week at the Calhoun County Supervisor of Elections office. Actual qualifying is from noon June 4 through noon June 8. However, those wishing to run by paying the qualifying fee (as opposed to the petition method that ended May 7), may pre-qualify until June 4.
Qualifying by fee is not cheap by any means. Those running with a party will pay a fee of six percent of the salary for the position they are seeking. The fee drops to four percent for those running with no party affiliation.
Candidates seeking the Calhoun County clerk of court, property appraiser school superintendent or tax collector posts would pay $5500.44 (six percent of the $91,674 salary). Supervisor of elections candidate fees are $4500.42 (salary $75,007). In the sheriff’s race, the fee is $6017.40 (salary $100,290). County Commission candidates would pay $1588.32 ($25,979 salary) and the fee for school board candidates is $970.92 (salary $24,268 with all filing at four percent due to the race being non-partisan).
Again, drop the fees in all races by two percent if running with no party affiliation.
In addition to county races, pre-qualifying is also underway in the Town of Altha and City of Blountstown. On the ballot in Altha are the mayor’s post, currently held by Wes Johnston, as well as three council seats, now held by Lee Alday, Tammy Gable and Rick Watson.
Blountstown Council posts on the ballot are the mayor’s seat, held now by Winston Deason, plus the ward 3 position held by James Griffin and the ward 4 spot held by Tony Shoemake.
Candidates are reminded that noon June 8 is the absolute deadline to file. Do not wait until the last minute as a campaign account is required to complete the process. But before opening that account, paper work must be completed at the supervisor of elections office in the basement of the Calhoun County Courthouse. Call 674-8568 or stop by the elections office for more details.
