CANDIDATES FLOCK TO FILE FOR OFFICE

By the time County Clerk Sheila Blair's office opened for business at 8 a.m. yesterday, it was filled with candidates ready to file their paperwork to run for the various countywide offices, along with the magistrate and constable offices, that will be up for election next year.
By 1 p.m. yesterday, a total of 19 candidates had filed for the various offices, with the largest number of candidates, as expected, filing for the jailer's position being vacated by the retiring William "Bug" Knight.
As expected, Judge/Executive Ann Melton filed to seek a second term, and she will be opposed in the Republican primary by at least one candidate as former Columbia mayor Curtis Hardwick also filed his candidacy papers for the office yesterday.
In the race to determine who will replace the retiring Ralph Curry as sheriff, two Republican candidates - Bobby Sullivan and Bradley Irvin - filed yesterday.
In the jailer's race, four Republicans and one Democrat filed. Tim Bradshaw, Tim Murphy, Eric Antle and Pam Yarberry filed for the GOP primary, while Democrat Rick Wilson was the only one of his party to file.
Incumbent County Clerk Blair filed for the Republican nomination for her office, and incumbent County Attorney Jennifer Hutchison-Corbin filed for another term in her office.
The only other individual to file for a county-wide office yesterday was Todd Akin, who filed for the Republican nomination for Coroner. Akin currently serves as deputy coroner under Rick Wilson, who is running for jailer.
Four magisterial candidates also filed their papers yesterday - incumbent Republican Terry Hadley filed for another term in District #7, and will be opposed in the primary by Lonnie McAllister; Incumbent Republican Perry Reeder filed for another term in District #4; and Kelly Hamlett filed for the Republican nomination in District #2.
Three candidates filed for constable - Robert Loy is seeking the Republican nomination in District #3, while incumbent Republican Jason Rector and Anthony Burke, also a Republican, both filed in District #6.
The filing deadline for the county offices is Jan. 26.
Photo:Bobby Sullivan, who is seeking the Republican nomination for sheriff, was first in line to file his candidacy papers in the County Clerk's office yesterday morning. Sullivan waited as Deputy Clerk Melissa Fletcher completed his paperwork. (Photo by Paul B. Hayes)