By Becky Long
Publisher
The candidate filing period closed at noon on Friday, Dec. 15 with few newcomers entering the local races.
Regarding the school board, Reba Beck and Danny Jones will be seeking re-election and two new candidates have joined in the race, Josh Ashe and Jeanine Craig.
Beck and Jones are vying for another four-year term on the school board.
The other board members serving are Jason Shook, Kelly Crawford and Robbie Caldwell who were elected in 2022.
Incumbents Rob Peck, Randy Nichols and Dwight Penland will not face competition from a party for their seats on the Clay County Commission Board.
During the December commission meeting, Peck was renamed chairman and Nichols vice chairman of the board by fellow commissioners.
The other commissioners serving on the board are Scotty Penland and Clay Logan, who were last elected in 2022 for four--year terms.
In addition, candidates who are not affiliated with a party may still run for office, though they will not be on the primary ballot.
Unaffiliated candidates who choose to run for office must submit a petition with 4 percent of the names of registered voters by noon on primary day, which is Tuesday, March 5.