Candidates Qualify for Gilmer’s 2022 Election (FINAL)

ELLIJAY, Ga. – With qualifying ongoing this week, FYN is updating daily with new candidates who qualify for the 2022 election cycle. Qualifiers are coming to the Gilmer County Probate Office this week to register and pay the Qualifying Fees for these offices.

Qualifying Fees were approved in January 2022 by the current Board of Commissioners. These fees were set at $2,550.71 for Commission Chairman and $459.13 for Post 2 Commissioner. Additionally, the board also set Board of Education qualifying fees at $144.

This year, Board of Commissioners Chairman, Board of Commissioners Post 2 Commissioner, Board of Education Post 4, and Board of Education Post 5 are open for qualifying. Every position has seen at least one qualifier so far. Both Board of Education positions will have competitors in the race.

Those who have qualified include:

Board of Commissioners Chairman
Charlie Paris (R) (Incumbent)

BOC Post 2 Commissioner
John Marshall (R)
Tom Whatley (R)
Gary Engel (R)

BOE Post 4
Michael Bramlett (Incumbent)
Michele Penland

BOE Post 5
Jacob Callihan
Sam Snider

Lime Stone Valley Soil & Water Conservation District
Ronald P. Cheslock
Michael A. Bushey
Blake Hoffman

Qualifying has concluded today with these final candidates. From here, these candidates will begin the campaign trail to the May 24 election day according to the Secretary of State’s Office. This is the primary election, but as the Board of Education does not follow the party system and all qualifiers for the Commissioners are of the same party, this will likely be the final election day for Gilmer County Offices.