Editor's note: The following article has been revised to reflect a correction, which will appear in Saturday's print edition: Incumbent John Riggs is running unopposed for the Statesboro City Council District 4 seat. Because of an editor's error, his name was listed incorrectly in a front-page article Friday. The Herald regrets the error.
Time is running out to register to vote in Bulloch County’s upcoming municipal elections.
Monday is the last day residents may register to participate in the Nov. 5 municipal elections, said Patricia Lanier Jones,
election supervisor for the Bulloch County Board of Elections and Voter Registration.
“Voter registration is held at the Bulloch County Courthouse. “A voter can check their voter registration (status) if they go to mvp.sos.state.ga.us or by giving our office a call at (912) 764-6502,” she said.
Early voting for the city of Statesboro and the town of Register will begin Oct. 14, and absentee ballot requests will be done through the voter registration office in the Bulloch County Courthouse.
Early voting for residents of Brooklet and Portal begins Oct. 15, and absentee ballot requests will be done at the City Hall in those municipalities.
“Statesboro and Register contracted with the county for us to do their elections and we will be open on Columbus Day, Oct. 14,” Jones said. “Portal and Brooklet are doing their own election and will be closed on Columbus Day.”
Bulloch County municipalities – Statesboro, Brooklet, Portal and Register – will all hold elections this year. Because no one is running with opposition in Register, the only issue on the ballot will be Sunday alcohol sales, Register Town Clerk Rhonda Deloach said.
The Sunday sales issue will not appear on Statesboro or Brooklet’s ballots, as Statesboro and Bulloch County residents voted to allow Sunday alcohol sales in 2011, while Brooklet residents denied Sunday alcohol sales two years ago. The Brooklet City Council has not revisited the issue, said Brooklet City Clerk Lori Phillips.
In Statesboro, four candidates will appear on the ballot for mayor: incumbent Joe Brannen, Jonathan McCollar, Jan Moore and Bill Thomas. The District 1 City Council seat is also contested, as incumbent Phil Boyum will face Kelly Dabbs. Incumbent John Riggs is running unopposed for the District 4 seat.
In Brooklet, voters will choose between candidates for two council seats; Post 3 incumbent Richard “Jim” Stanoff is running unopposed.
Post 4 incumbent Edwin R. Smith is challenged by Sharon “Sherry” Rich and Gregory N. Schlierf, said Belle Gay, the administrative assistant to the Brooklet City Council.
Incumbent Jim Orr, Post 5, will not run for the office again, she said. Two others – Steve Allen Vezo and Thomas F. McElwee – will vie for the post.
In Register, John F. Williams was the only candidate to qualify for the mayor position, which will be vacated by incumbent James Oates.
Incumbent Barbara Rushing is also unopposed for council seat #2, and no one qualified for vacant council seat #1, she said.
In January, council members will appoint someone to that seat, according to Deloach.
Register voters did not vote on the Sunday alcohol sales issue during the last election because the council “didn’t get it on the ballot in time,” she said. However, a local business has expressed interest in the matter and citizens will be able to decide on the issue.
Portal citizens denied Sunday alcohol sales by six votes during the last election, but will revisit the matter again this election, said Portal City Clerk Mike Arrieta.
Portal voters will also choose between candidates for two council seats. One seat, Post #1, held by incumbent Billy Boggs, is unopposed, he said.
Incumbent Myra Barrett will not run for office again, leaving the field wide open for candidates Sissy Carter and Nan Finch.
Post #3 incumbent Jerry Lanigan is challenged by Jackie A. Woods, Arrieta said.
Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.