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Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell appeared on his way to the Republican nomination for Shelby County mayor at Thursday’s noon filing deadline for candidates on the May 4 primary ballot.
Luttrell faces only token opposition from perennial candidate Ernie Lunati.
Meanwhile, the Democratic primary for mayor grew to three contenders as General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson filed his qualifying petition just before the deadline. He joins interim County Mayor Joe Ford and Shelby County Commissioner Deidre Malone.
Luttrell ruled out a bid for Shelby County mayor last year (2009). But when Harold Byrd decided not to run in the Democratic primary, some local GOP leaders asked Luttrell to reconsider.
The result touched off a scramble of candidates from both parties for the open sheriff’s office. But before the noon deadline, the initial field of over a dozen possible contenders was narrowed to ten – six Democrats and four Republicans.
The other surprise at the filing deadline was the return of attorney Walter Bailey to the District 2 Position 1 seat he gave up in the 2006 elections. Bailey sought re-election then to another term despite a two term limit on commissioners. Bailey lost to J.W. Gibson who decided not to seek re-election. He also lost a court fight to overturn the term limits.
Bailey was the only candidate who had filed for the seat at the Thursday deadline.
Only one incumbent county commissioner – Republican Mike Ritz -- was effectively re-elected at the deadline because he had no opposition.
All but one of the eleven contested County Commission races will be decided with the May 4 primaries. The only general election battle for the August ballot is the district 5 contest between GOP challenger Dr. Rolando Toyos and whoever wins the May Democratic primary between incumbent Steve Mulroy and Jennings Bernard.
Former County Commissioner John Willingham also returned to the ballot among a field of Republican contenders in the primary for Shelby County Trustee.
And former Criminal Court Clerk Minerva Johnican joined the Democratic primary field for her old job. Incumbent Republican Bill Key pulled petition to seek re-election but did not file at the deadline.
Here is the list of races and contenders from The Shelby County Election Commission. All candidate have until noon Feb. 25 to withdraw from the ballot if they wish.
D-Democrat
R- Republican
I- Independent
Shelby County Mayor:
Deidre Malone (D)
Joe Ford (D)
Otis Jackson (D)
Mark Luttrell (R)
Ernest Lunati (R)
Leo Awgowhat (I)
Shelby County Sheriff:
James Coleman (R)
Bobby Simmons (R)
Bill Oldham (R)
Dale Lane (R)
Larry Hill (D)
Bennie Cobb (D)
Randy Wade (D)
James Bolden (D)
Elton Hymon (D)
Reginald French (D)
County Commission Dist 1 Pos 1
Mike Ritz (R) (incumbent)
County Commission Dist 1 Pos 2
Albert Maduska (R)
Heidi Shafer (R)
County Commission Dist 1 Pos 3
Mike Carpenter (R) (incumbent)
Joe Baire (R)
County Commission Dist 2 Pos 1
Walter Bailey (D)
County Commission Dist 2 Pos 2
Henri Brooks (D) (incumbent)
David Vinciarelli (D)
County Commission Dist 2 Pos 3
Eric Dunn (D)
Norma Lester (D)
Tina Dickerson (D)
Melvin Burgess (D)
Reginald Milton (D)
Freddie Thomas (D)
County Commission Dist 3 Pos 1
James Harvey (D) (incumbent)
James Catchings (D)
County Commission Dist. 3 Pos 2
Sidney Chism (D) (incumbent)
Andrew "Rome" Withers (D)
County Commission Dist. 3 Pos 3
Edith Moore (D) (incumbent)
Justin Ford (D)
County Commission Dist 4 Pos 1
Chris Thomas (R)
John Pellicciotti (R)
Jim Bomprezzi (R)
County Commission Dist 4 Pos 2
Wyatt Bunker (R) (incumbent)
John Wilkerson (R)
Ron Fittes (R)
County Commission Dist 4 Pos 3
Terry Roland (R)
George Chism (R)
Edgar Babian (R)
County Commission Dist 5
Steve Mulroy (D) (incumbent)
Jennings Bernard (D)
Rolando Toyos (R)
Shelby County Clerk
Charlotte Draper (D)
Corey Maclin (D)
LaKeith Miller (D)
Wayne Mashburn (R)
Steve Moore (R)
Criminal Court Clerk
Vernon Johnson (D)
Minerva Johnican (D)
Ralph White (D)
Michael Porter (R)
Kevin Key (R)
Jerry Stamson (I)
Circuit Court Clerk
Jimmy Moore (R) (incumbent)
Steven Webster (D)
Carmichael Johnson (D)
Ricky W. Dixon (D)
Juvenile Court Clerk
Joy Touliatos (R)
Charles Marshall (D)
Sylvester Bradley (D)
Shep Wilbun (D)
Julia Roberson Wiseman (I)
Probate Court Clerk
Paul Boyd (R)
Sondra Becton (D)
Danny Kail (D)
Annita Sawyer Hamilton (D)
Peggy Dobbins (D)
Clay Perry (D)
Karen Tyler (D)
Shelby County Register
Tom Leatherwood (R) (incumbent)
Coleman Thompson (D)
Lady J. Swift (D)
Carlton Orange (D)
Shelby County Trustee
Regina Newman (D) (incumbent)
M. LaTroy Williams (D)
John Willingham (R)
Jeff Jacobs (R)
David Lenoir (R)
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