Filing for the 2021 municipal elections in Highlands is now closed with several candidates qualifying to run for election.
As of Friday, incumbent mayor Patrick Taylor will face current commissioner Marc Hehn.
In the race for town board, incumbent commissioner Donnie Calloway is stepping away from the board leaving a seat open. Incumbent Amy Patterson has filed to defend her position on the board, but will be challenged by Thomas Craig, Pat Allen, Nic McCall, Mary Alice Bynum and former commissioner Eric Pierson.
The top two vote getters earn a spot on the board.
In Franklin, Jack Horton is unopposed in his bid to become mayor, but three spots are open on the Franklin town board. David Culpepper will take on challengers Rita Salain, Jimbo Ledford, Frances Seay and Stacy Guffey. The top three vote getters will be sworn onto the board in December.
Justin Stamey and Mike Trammel have filed paperwork for Clerk of Court in the 2022 Primary election and Robert Cook, Clay Bryson, Brent Holbrooks, Derek Jones and Chris Browning have all filed paperwork for the open sheriff’s position for the 2022 Primary Election.
Municipal elections are open only to people living in and registered to vote in the city limits. Voters must have lived in the municipality for at least 30 days prior to the election to qualify to vote. The voter registration deadline for the 2021 election is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8.
- By Christopher Smith