Several candidates have already qualified for the July 15 primaries for both local and state races.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, there were three Democratic candidates and one Republican candidate who had qualified for the position of Spalding County sheriff - Democrats Jesse Maddox, Franklin Allen and Wendell Beam, and Republican Dee Stewart. Incumbent Eddie Freeman faces challengers Chris Carroll and Ed Brown for the Spalding County Board of Commissioners District 4 seat.

Marcia Norris had not drawn any opposition for the position of clerk of Superior Court, and Coroner Sonny Foster and Tax Commissioner Sylvia Hollums had not drawn any opponents. Johnie McDaniel, a Republican, so far has no opponent for the Spalding County Board of Commissioners District 3 seat.

Spalding County Election Supervisor Terri Colling said qualifying at the local level is primarily a party affair.

“The people that come in, they would go to the party of their choice and fill out the necessary paperwork and pay the qualifying fee,” she said.

According to Georgia law, the qualifying fee is 3 percent of the annual salary if the position is a salaried office.

If it is not a salaried position, the fee set by “the governing authority” cannot exceed 3 percent of the income derived from the office by the previous incumbent.

Qualifying is also taking place at the state level, for state and federal offices.

“Any office that crosses county lines has to qualify at the state Capitol this week,” Colling said. “They’ll qualify with their party of choice.”

Above the county level, incumbent Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard will face Rudjard Hayes in the Republican primary, while state Rep. John Yates, R-Griffin, will be challenged by Rick Williams. State Sen. John Douglas, R-Social Circle, state Rep. David Knight, R-Griffin, state Sen. Ronnie Chance, R-Tyrone, and U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., have not had any opponents qualify for the Republican Primary, while Bill Mauldin has qualified on the Democratic side for David Knight’s district and Democrat Stephen Camp has qualified to run against Westmoreland in November.

Those who might be interested in standing for office in July have until noon Friday to qualify.

They can do so at the Spalding County Courthouse Annex.