There will be options for seats in Rockmart and Aragon on the ballot this November as elections have become contested as qualifying concluded today in two of the three municipal elections this cycle.

The Board of Elections sent out the final notice for candidates who got on the ballot after the weeklong period for candidates to qualify came to a close today.

Let’s run down the elections that are now contested, and go over those that aren’t for the 2023 ballot as several candidates jumped into races before time expired today.

Aragon

The Aragon City Council saw a lot of action over the past week: first it was looking like qualifying might have to re-0pen, but now there are contested races for all seats that are open for the November 8 ballot.

Aragon voters will have a choice between acting Mayor Judd Fee – seeking to make the job a full term position as he qualified earlier in the week – and Stephen Wilson, who added his name to the ballot today.

Voters additionally have contested races in all three of the council seats.

Council Member Donnie Canada qualified earlier in the week for a new four year term for his seat, but now he’s also joined by Gary Shindelbower and Ed Streetman in a contest for two of the open seats on the council in this cycle. Acting Mayor Fee has to give up his chance to retain his council seat in the coming contest since he’s running for Mayor.

Along with that, Stephen Sanders and Tammy Kilgore are both running for the remaining time on the seat vacated last year, which is a two year term at this point.

With the entire ballot contested in Aragon as time expired for qualifying, the Board of Elections will additionally have a SPLOST vote for local residents to decide on when they head over to the city’s precinct later this fall.

Rockmart

The only contested race within Rockmart – and for a majority of the week was the only contested race across the county – was for Mayor of the city.

Rockmart incumbent Mayor Sherman Ross is seeking a new four year term in the office, but he faces challengers from two former council members for the job in the coming vote. Former Council Member James Payne came off the council after a 16-year stint in 2019, and now wants to come back to serve as Mayor. Cooley Austin additionally served as a council member as well in years past.

Two council races went uncontested in Rockmart this term. Marty Robinson will secure his seat in Ward 2, and Rick Stone will keep his seat in Ward 5 without challengers on the ballot for this term.

Rockmart’s contest also will include the countywide SPLOST vote.

Cedartown

The Cedartown City Commission won’t technically require anyone to vote this year, since qualifying ended with no challengers for two spots as an incumbent continues their service, and a newcomer is coming aboard.

Commissioner Dale Tuck will get to keep her seat for a new term in office without opposition and joining the board come January 2024 will be Ryan Casey. Casey is going to replace Commissioner Andrew Carter, who decided not to seek a new term in office after serving since 2015 in the office, at one point as Commission Chair.

Cedartown voters will still be needed at the polls this November for the SPLOST vote as well, but whether Cedartown Commission seats will be on the ballot will be decided in the weeks to come.