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A slate of local incumbents will return to office unchallenged, following the close of the qualifying period Friday.

The July 31 election, however, will see several intense match-ups — and a number of contests will roll over to the Nov. 6 general election.

Three Republicans are vying for the new state Senate District 52 seat: David Doss and Chuck Hufstetler of Floyd County and Hayden Collins of Bartow County.

There is no Democratic candidate so the election will be decided in July, or in an Aug. 21 runoff if no one gets more than 50 percent of the vote.

Roger Wade is challenging Floyd County Post 2 Commissioner Garry Fricks in the Republican primary. The winner will face Democrat Gary D. Harrell in November.

Two Republicans qualified in each of the special elections scheduled to fill the County Commission seats vacated by Eddie Lumsden and Whitefield.

Rhonda Wallace and Nathan Roberts are seeking the Post 1 seat. Jerry Lee and Larry Maxey are vying for the Post 4 seat. The winners are expected to take office in August and serve the unexpired terms, through Dec. 31, 2014.

Incumbents unopposed for re-election are Superior Court judges J. Bryant Durham Jr. and Jack Niedrach, Probate Court Judge Steve Burkhalter, Chief Magistrate Gene Richardson, state Reps. Katie Dempsey, R-Rome, and Christian Coomer, R-Cartersville, District Attorney Leigh Patterson, Tax Commissioner Kevin Payne, County Coroner Barry Henderson, and Floyd County school board members Brian Barcomb and George Bevels.

On Friday, Daniel Grant, a 54-year-old Ringgold electrician, qualified as a Democrat to challenge U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ranger, in November.

Republican Mark McAllister also qualified to run against Clerk of Courts Barbara Penson, a Democrat, and Republican David Cox qualified for a second term on the county school board. Democrat Everett Ballard also is seeking the school board seat.

Also in November, Republican Cary Cooper will try to unseat Sheriff Tim Burk­halter, a Democrat; Lumsden is challenging state Rep. Barbara Massey Reece, D-Menlo; and Democrat Rick Garrett will face off against Republican County Commissioner Irwin Bagwell.

The deadline is July 2 to register to vote in the July 31 elections.

Click here for a link to the MyVoter page for personalized information about registering and voting. 

Qualifying results

I = Incumbent

* = Incumbent returned to office without challenge

Nonpartisan

* Chief Magistrate Gene Richardson

* Probate Court Judge Steve Burkhalter

* Superior Court Judge J. Bryant Durham

* Superior Court Judge John E. (Jack) Niedrach

Special election

Floyd County Commission, Post 1 (Whitefield)

Countywide vote, must live in city of Rome

Republicans: Rhonda Wallace, Nathan Roberts

Floyd County Commission, Post 4 (Lumsden)

Countywide vote, must live in unincorporated area

Republicans: Larry Maxey, Jerry Lee

Primary

U.S. Congress 14th District

Northwest Georgia: Floyd, Polk, Paulding, Haralson, Chattooga, Gordon, Walker, Dade, Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray and part of Pickens

Republican: Tom Graves (I)

Democrat: Daniel “Danny” Grant, Ringgold

State Senate District 52 (new district)

Floyd, south Chattooga, west Gordon, west Bartow

Republican: David Doss, Hayden Collins, Chuck Hufstetler

State House District 12

Chattooga, north and west Floyd

Republican: Eddie Lumsden

Democrat: Barbara Massey Reece (I)

* State House District 13

Central Floyd, including Rome

Republican: Katie Dempsey (I)

* State House District 14

North Bartow, southeast Floyd

Republican: Christian Coomer (I)

* Floyd County District Attorney

Democrat: Leigh Patterson (I)

Sheriff

Republican: Cary Cooper

Democrat: Tim Burk­halter (I)

* Tax Commissioner

Republican: Kevin Payne (I)

* County Coroner

Democrat: Barry Henderson (I)

Superior Court Clerk

Republican: Mark McAllister

Democrat: Barbara Penson (I)

Floyd County Commission, Post 2

Countywide vote, must live in city of Rome

Republican: Garry Fricks (I), Roger Wade

Democrat: Gary D. Harrell

Floyd County Commission, Post 3

Countywide vote, must live in unincorporated area

Republican: Irwin Bag­well (I)

Democrat: Rick Garrett

Floyd County School Board, District 2

Model and Johnson communities only

Republican: David Cox

Democrat: Everett Ballard

* Floyd County School Board, District 3

Coosa community only

Republican: Brian Barcomb (I)

* Floyd County School Board, District 5

Cave Spring and McHenry communities only

Democrat: George Bevels (I)