The political landscape in Warren County got a little more crowded as 2014 dawned with both the sheriff and county executive races getting more crowded, while the district attorney race appears to be a contested affair.
Local attorney Robert Newman, senior partner with Galligan and Newman attorneys at law, picked up papers to challenge Lisa Zavogiannis, the woman who beat him in the Democratic primary eight years ago. However, there will be no repeat of 2006 when Zavogiannis nipped him in the primary as Newman has picked up papers to run as an independent.
This means, should Newman qualify to run, they will not face off until August. Zavogiannis went on in the general election that year after beating Newman to win in a landslide over then-incumbent Dale Potter. Newman is the only person, thus far, to pick up papers to challenge Zavogiannis, who intends to run for re-election as a Democrat.
While the district attorney general’s office appears to be contested, the race for county executive got even more crowded. Incumbent County Executive John Pelham has not officially announced if he will seek re-election. However, he has suggested he may not seek another term.
This has made for a large field of potential hopefuls. At last count, six people had picked up papers to qualify for county executive.
In the Democratic race, potential candidates include County Commissioners Herschel Wells and Kenneth Rogers, the latter of whom is a former county executive. Hackett Lance, who has run for several offices over the years, currently rounds out the potential Democratic field.
McMinnville Alderman Michael Neal and former county executive aspirant and McMinnville mayoral candidate John Shields appear to be vying for the Republican nomination. Only one candidate from each party will advance to the general election from the primaries.
Those winners may end up facing Jonathan Ferrell, who is the lone independent to pick up papers.
Along with a big field for county executive, incumbent Sheriff Jackie Matheny may face opposition both in May and August. Presently, longtime lawman Bobby Edwards plans to take on Matheny in the Democratic primary. Meanwhile, former chief deputy Danice Taylor and former deputy Michael “Doc” Smith plan to take another shot at winning the sheriff’s seat. Both have run against their old boss before.
Qualifying will continue until noon, Feb. 20.