Staff photo - LeAnne Akin Kristi Royston and Katie Ferm of the Elections Office said they were pleased with the 1,842 advance votes cast last week

Get ready to go to the polls Tuesday as several hot political contests will be on the Republican ballot.

The three-way race for District Attorney of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit will send Barrow, Banks and Jackson voters to the polls to elect their DA.

In that circuit-wide DA contest, Rick Bridgeman is the incumbent as he was appointed last fall by Gov. Sonny Perdue to complete the remainder of the term of longtime DA Tim Madison, who is serving a six-year prison sentence.

Madison entered a guilty plea in March to theft and fraud charges in Banks County.

Challenging the incumbent to become the next DA is Jackson County attorney Donna Sikes, who wants to implement a drug court and pledges to restore honesty and integrity to the office.

Also seeking to become District Attorney is career prosecutor Brad Smith, who has urged voters to talk with those involved with the courts and law enforcement about his reputation. Smith, who was an assistant district attorney in the circuit, resigned after several employees in the office were replaced when Bridgeman arrived. Smith said he is committed to bringing his employees under the respective county's civil service plan for their protection from a threatening "at will" work situation.

Also on the Republican ticket is the Sheriff's race with Chief Deputy Murray Kogod and Winder Police Sgt. Jud Smith seeking to succeed Sheriff Joe Robinson. The victor in Tuesday's Primary will face Democratic candidate James B. Bonnemer Sr., in November.

Other local contested Republican races include the Clerk of Superior Court between Lois Riner Bernius and Regina Brock McIntyre, both of whom have experience in the office as Deputy Chief Clerk; County Commission Chairman's race between incumbent Doug Garrison and challengers Jim Beckemeyer and Daniel Yearwood; Commission District 1 between incumbent Jerry Lampp and Larry Joe Wilburn; Commission District 2 between incumbent Bill Brown and Eva Elder; Commission District 3 between Tom Williamson and Steve Worley; and Chief Magistrate Judge with incumbent June Davis challenged by Monica Hunter Durden.

Other contested races on the Republican ballot include two statewide Public Service Commission races between Pam Davidson and Lauren W. McDonald Jr., and between Rick Collum and H. Doug Everett.

Two contested races on the Democratic ticket include a five-man race for U.S. Senate between Dale Cardwell, Vernon Jones, Rand Knight, Josh Lanier and Jim Martin, and the PSC race between Bob Indech and Jim Powell.

Johnny C. Smith, Democratic candidate for Chief Magistrate, will face the winner of the Davis-Durden Republican race, and incumbent District 3 Commissioner Bill Healan will face the winner of the Williamson-Worley race.

The Republican Party also has three "straw poll" questions - about the "death tax," English as the official language of Georgia and local taxation for the "Brain Train." The vote is nonbinding.

The Barrow County Republican Party hosted three forums to showcase its 18 candidates for voters to make informed decisions at the polls. Other organizations here and in other counties also hosted opportunities for voters to hear from and meet the candidates.

On Tuesday, the Primary will find Barrow County voters selecting between a Republican and Democratic ballot - a process which at least one local citizen expressed displeasure about while advance voting.

Election Supervisor Kristi Royston reminds voters to look at the sample ballots posted at their respective polling place before getting their ballot.

Some voters have gotten their ballot and voted before they complain the didn't see the candidates in the race they expected to see, notes Royston.

"If they get the wrong ballot, vote and punch 'Cast Ballot,' there is nothing we can do," said Royston. If a voter realizes they asked for a Democratic ballot when they would like to participate in the contested Republican balloting for Sheriff or County Commission Chairman, for example, that voter should not 'Cast Ballot' but should instead request assistance.

The polls will open Tuesday at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Voters standing in line at 7 p.m. will be able to vote, said Royston. Remember that a photo I.D. will be needed at the polls.

Voters at Fire Station 5 (County Line) will have assistance in the parking lot as volunteers of the Barrow County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will be helping motorists park in order to maximize the paved parking area while still allowing for the flow of emergency vehicles as needed.

In previous elections, voters parked along Highway 211 and there was concern about the possibility of accidents. With several fatal accidents already occurring on that highway this year, drivers will be encouraged to show extra caution as they pull into and out of the fire station parking lot.

"Please do not park along the highway as the CERT volunteers have graciously agreed to assist with parking," said Royston.

Barrow County has 16 polling locations, and Royston is anticipating good voter turnout since Advance Voting numbers exceeded the Presidential Preference Primary in February. While she was a bit concerned that mailout ballots had previous been slow, those numbers have also picked up. to be counted, absentee and mail ballots must be received on Tuesday.

On Tuesday evening, the vote consolidation and display will be in the commissioners' meeting room on the upper level of the Barrow County Administrative Annex at 233 E. Broad St., in Winder.

Questions about the election - including a call to confirm your proper voting precinct location - can be directed to the Elections & Voter Registration Office (770) 307-3110. Royston said the results of the balloting will be on the county's website - www.barrowga.org/vote08/liveresults

Originally published Sunday, July 13, 2008