Longtime county tax assessor/collector Greg Andrews will have an opponent in this year’s election.
Sherman Vaughn, a retired real estate agent, qualified as a Republican this week in the race. He ran unsuccessfully for sheriff in 2011.
Vaughn did not return multiple calls and messages from The Dispatch by press time.
Andrews, a Democrat, is seeking his seventh term in office, first being elected in 1996. Before that, he worked seven years as a deputy assessor/collector under Henry Perkins.
He has run unopposed three times, last facing a contested race in 2011.
“There’s a lot of laws we have to follow,” Andrews said. “We’re going to continue to treat our residents fair just like we have for the past 31 years.”
If no other candidates qualify for party primaries, Andrews and Vaughn will face off in November’s general election.
In the District 1 Justice Court judge race, former Caledonia town marshal Ben Kilgore has qualified as a Republican to run against incumbent Chris Hemphill.
Kilgore, who is “between jobs” after he resigned as town marshal following controversy over social media posts he made criticizing town policy, said county residents asked him to run for justice court judge.
“I’m retired, so I can be available,” he said. “I’m available on the weekends and every other day. It’s not just a one-week every three weeks job. You work for the county. So I’m going to be available.”
Hemphill, who has served as a District 1 judge for 10 years, said he’s going to let his experience speak for itself.
“I’ve been a justice court judge for 10 years and I have a law degree … and 26 years practicing law,” he said.
Party primaries are set for August. Qualifying deadline is March 1.
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