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Murphy – Two last-minute filings have brought competition to two local school board primaries.
David Ricks, code enforcement official and husband of Cherokee County tax assessor Teresa Ricks, filed to run against incumbent Jeannie Gaddis in the Tuesday, March 3, Republican primary for a District 2 – Murphy – seat on the Cherokee County Board of Education. The winner of that race will be unopposed in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election.
Gary Butler has filed to run against Jason Murphy and Shannon Raper for two seats in the Republican primary for a District 3 – Hiwassee Dam – seat on the board of education.
The Republican primary winners for the two Hiwassee Dam seats will go on to the general election and face Joy Stein, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
In other Cherokee County races with opposition:
- Board of Education, at large – Republicans Stephen Dartez and Randy Phillips.
- Sheriff – Republicans Dustin Smith (incumbent), Samuel May and Chris Wood.
- Board of Commissioners, District 1 – Republicans Cal Stiles (incumbent), Jeana Conley and Steve Jordan; Democrat Rex Cable.
- Board of Commissioners, District 3 – Republicans Steve Coleman and Mark Stalcup; Democrat Judith Bodley.
- Board of Commissioners, District 4 – Republicans Dan Eichenbaum (incumbent), Barry Killian, Sue Lynn Ledford and Tom O’Leske.