Five candidates qualified Friday morning to run for office, bringing the total to 23 candidates vying for local office.
Democrat Liz Johnson signed up to run against incumbent Bulloch County Clerk of Courts Teresa Tucker, a Republican, who qualified Wednesday.
Keith Howard qualified for the sheriff’s race against incumbent Lynn Anderson and challenger Tommy Sisson. All three are Republicans; Sisson and Anderson qualified Wednesday.
Levon E. Wilson qualified to run for the Bulloch County Board of Education District #3, which will be vacated by incumbent Edwin Hill, who decided not to run for reelection.
State Court Solicitor Joey Cowart and Bulloch County Surveyor John Dotson each qualified to run again Friday and are unopposed.
Incumbent Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Richard Mallard and challenger Martha Hall Kirkland also qualified to run for the office Friday.
In state races, Sen. Jack Hill, state Rep. Jon Burns and state Rep. Butch Parrish qualified, drawing no opposition.
State Rep. Jan Tankersley has no primary opposition, but will be challenged in the general election by a 21-year-old student, Marc Silver, who qualified as a Democrat.
Congressman John Barrow, a Democrat, is challenged by Republicans Rick Allen, Lee Anderson, Wright McLeod and Maria Sheffield, who will be on the Republican Primary Ballot July 31. Barrow has no Democratic primary opposition.
Other candidates qualifying Wednesday were : Dr. Tom Caiazzo and Cheri Wagner , who each qualified for Bulloch County Board of Education District 1, which is being vacated by incumbent David Ball’s retirement; Board of Education members Mike Herndon (District 7)and Maurice Hill (District 8), Bulloch County Magistrate Judge June Braswell, Bulloch County Probate Judge Lee Deloach, and state court judge Gary Mikell.
Also, Bulloch County commissioners Carolyn Etheridge (Republican), Roy Thompson (Republican), Ray Mosley, (Democrat) and chairman Garret  Nevil(Republican), ; Bulloch County coroner Jake Futch and Bulloch County Tax Commissioner James Deal.

Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.