Paulding County has new political boundaries after the 2020 census was completed, meaning some of the traditional candidates who have run in the past are no longer part of local district boundaries.
And at least one incumbent locally is out of office entirely after resigning in recent days.
With the first day of qualifying at a close this afternoon, Paulding County already has a slate of people stepping up for primary and general election runs in this statewide cycle.
Here’s a rundown of who jumped to get onto the ballots locally and statewide:
Local Candidates
Starting with the County Commission Post 2, two Republicans and a Democrat have entered the race.
Ida Gardner of Dallas, owner of Ida G’s, got into the Commission race as thus far the only Democrat to step up onto the ballot for the primary on May 24 – and potentially the general election in November.
Two GOP candidates are now in the race, David Dial and Sandy Kaecher, both of Dallas.
Kaecher, the incumbent, is an AFLAC independent agent. Dial is challenging in the primary, and is employed as an automotive technician per the Secretary of State’s website.
In the Post 3 race, Virginia Galloway of Hiram and Frankie Willingham Jr. of a Douglasville mailing address have both gotten into the GOP Primary as candidates with the departure of Chuck Hart with his recent resignation.
The Post 4 seat features Brian Stover of Dallas. He’s seeking a new term in office, and is a GOP candidate.
Paulding’s Board of Education has two candidates in the race so far.
In District 2, incumbent Nick Chester of a Powder Springs address is seeking a new term in office along with Dan Nolan of an Acworth address.
Chester is a local attorney, and Nolan is the CEO of Epic Tents.
State Senate
Mike Dugan, incumbent of District 30 in its current form around the Carrollton area, is seeking to keep his seat in office as the new district takes shape following a redrawing of boundaries following the 2020 census. He qualified today for the seat, and thus far he has no opposition.
Dugan’s newly-drawn district covers a portion of South Paulding.
The rest of the county is now made up of State Senator Jason Anavitarte’s District 31, which comprises a majority of Paulding and all of Polk County.
Anavitarte is expecting to qualify on Tuesday, he noted in a brief response to Paulding Today when reached for comment.
He had already planned to seek a second term. He thus far has no opposition for the seat as well either in the primary or in the general election.
The redrawn map doesn’t significantly change the political landscape in the state senate for Paulding, with Dugan and Anavitarte both incumbents covering Paulding County.
State House
The shift in Paulding County’s population from the census did see a redrawn map for the State House, with House districts 17, 19, 66, and 67 shifting borders and becoming new districts.
Polk County and Paulding have a combined State House seat now, with State Rep. Trey Kelley currently representing the area. No one has yet qualified for the race in either party.
In a new District 17 – currently represented by State Rep. Martin Momtahan – there’s already a candidate in the race in the form of Neil Wolin of Dallas. No additional candidates have yet jumped in that race either, including the GOP incumbent.
A newly reorganized District 19 has incumbent Republican Joseph Gullett already in the race as well, with no other challengers yet qualified.
The redrawn map in redistricting saw Paulding lose two previously held seats with the population shift – House District 66 held by Democrat Kimberly Alexander, and House District 67 held by Micah Gravley – are now in Douglas and Fulton counties.
Instead, Paulding is now part of a newly drawn House District 18 that includes all of Haralson, north and west Carroll County, and South Paulding just past where Douglas and Carroll counties meet along the southern border.
Tyler Paul Smith, incumbent of District 18 and a Bremen resident, is seeking to keep his seat in the 2022 election.
Additionally, Paulding now is part of a District 64 created with southeast Paulding and western Douglas counties. Shane Miller of Hiram, a contractor, is seeking the seat in the 2022 election.
Check back for more updates as they become available throughout the week.
