More changes are coming to the local county elections for Smith County Offices next year, with the addition of the school board elections to the Republican and Democratic primaries scheduled for May 3, 2021. Before the current calls for primaries, all candidates for county offices qualified and ran as an independent candidate. Many have questioned the benefit and necessity of having primaries for local offices. The added primaries will cost the county additional money, and all elected officials have a responsibility to fulfill their duties to all residents regardless of political affiliation.
Qualifying petitions were made available beginning December 20, 2021, with a deadline to return them by Noon, February 17, 2022. Candidates must declare whether they will participate in the Republican or Democratic primary in May or qualify as an independent candidate. The winners of the primaries will then appear on the general election ballot on August 4, 2022. Independent candidates will not appear on the May primary ballots and only appear on the general election ballot. All candidates must qualify by Noon on February 17, 2022, regardless of participating in a primary or not.
In addition to the county primaries on May 3, the primaries for the elected offices for the 15th Judicial District will also be held. Municipal and state elections are slated to occur later in 2022. Be sure to follow Smith County Insider for up-to-date coverage of the 2022 election cycle.
The following county offices will be on the May 3, 2022, Primary Ballot:
- County Mayor (Four Year Term)
- County Commission (Four Year Term) – All Districts (3 from each district)
- Trustee (Four Year Term)
- General Sessions Judge (Eight-Year Term)
- Sheriff (Four Year Term) – Peace Officers Standards & Training filing due February 3, 2022
- Circuit Court Clerk (Four Year Term)
- County Clerk (Four Year Term)
- Register of Deeds (Four Year Term)
- Road Superintendent (To fill an unexpired term for two years) – TN Highway Officials Certification filing due February 3, 2022
- School Board (Four Year Term)
- District 3 (New Middleton)
- District 4 (Rock City)
- District 6 (Carthage)
- District 8 (Elmwood)
The following offices for the 15th Judicial District will be on the May 3, 2022, Primary Ballot:
- Circuit Court Judge Division I (Eight-Year Term)
- Circuit Court Judge Division II (Eight-Year Term)
- Chancellor (Eight-Year Term)
- Criminal Court Judge (Eight-Year Term)
- District Attorney General (Eight-Year Term)
- Public Defender (Eight-Year Term)
