2022 Voter Guide: What to know about key offices in the Maury County elections

Mike Christen, The Daily Herald
·6 min read

This year marks a point of transition for Maury County as many of the community’s elected positions, including the county mayor, county commissioners and odd-numbered school board seats, will again be on the ballot in the 2022 election.

The county general election held on Aug. 4 and the city and state Nov. 8 election, including seats for city mayor, state representatives and governor, will likely lead to significant changes in leadership in Maury County and its municipalities.

“This is one of our largest elections in terms of candidates and offices that we have had on the ballot in eight years,” Todd Baxter, Maury County’s administrator of elections told The Daily Herald.

“It is always important that people get out and vote, and more so with local elections, it is important. These are the people who decide what taxes you pay, what kind of schools you build and what kind of roads you drive on.”

School and county races will define August election

The position of county mayor will likely be the center-point of the August election.

Although petitions have not yet been issued, former county mayor Carlie Norman plans to pursue reelection, while incumbent Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles also plans to seek a second consecutive term in office.

The position of sheriff, currently held by Bucky Rowland in his second four-year term, and all of the county’s 22 commissioners will also be up for election.

Education will also fuel the discourse leading up to the August election as all of Maury County Public Schools’ odd numbered school board seats will also be decided during the election.

Maury County’s residents will also cast a ballot on who will serve as District Attorney for the state’s 22nd Judicial District. The position, currently held by Brent Cooper, will be decided by voters in Maury, Lawrence, Giles and Wayne counties.

Voters will also choose the district’s public defender and circuit court judges for districts 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk and Register of Deeds will also be up for election.

Trustee, General Sessions Judge Part I and II General Sessions Part I Associate Judge will also appear on the the ballot. One constable will also be chosen from each of the county’s 11 districts.

Those seeking to qualify to run in the August election must file a petition by the qualifying deadline of noon on April 7. Petitions will be issued starting Feb. 7.

The last day to register to vote for this election is July 5.

In order to run as a Republican in a partisan seat, the primary candidate must be chosen through the process of a Maury County Republican caucus.

The Maury County Republican Convention is Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. when the party will cast its votes to determine the Republican candidates who will appear on the ballot in the August elections.

Last year, the Tennessee legislature approved a bill allowing partisan school board elections, marking a sweeping change from the historically statewide nonpartisan school board elections. The bill was met with mixed reviews from Republicans and Democrats.

More: Maury County Republican Party to hold caucus in 2022 General Election

State and municipal leaders will be decided in November

The November election will be defined by the race for governor.

Gov. Bill Lee said in September that he will seek a second term in office. Meanwhile Dr. Casey Nicholson, a minister, Dr. Jason Martin, a doctor at Sumner Regional Medical Center, Stephen Maxwell and John A. Gentry have voiced their plans to run against the Republican incumbent.

Following the state’s 10-year redistricting process, residents in Maury County will vote on at least one congressman and senator.

Under the current draft of the plan, Baxter said residents in Maury County will vote for two seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives, including District 64 currently held by Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, and District 71 currently held by Rep. David Byrd.

Maury County’s municipalities will also come front-and-center during the November election as Columbia’s residents will vote for their next mayor, a position currently held by attorney and investor Chaz Molder, and vice mayor, currently held by Christa Martin, a leader at Columbia State Community College.

Voters in Mt. Pleasant will also cast their ballots for two city commissioners.

Candidates seeking petitions in Columbia and Mt. Pleasant must qualify by Aug. 18 after petitions will be made available starting on June 20.

Oct. 11 will be the last day to register to vote in the November election.

Spring Hill’s next leaders to be chosen in spring 2023

On April 13, 2023, residents in Spring Hill will elect one alderman from each of the city’s four wards.

Petitions for election will be made available starting Nov. 21 with Jan. 19 being the qualifying deadline.

How to register and vote in Maury County

As the new election cycle begins to ramp up, citizens are encouraged to make sure they are registered to vote and properly identified with the Maury County Election Commission.

Residents must make sure their address is up-to-date with the commission, and they are registered to vote in the county in which they reside. Maury County residents can register, update their address or check their registration status at www.GoVoteTN.com. Registering voters will only need a driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

“It is about as easy as it ever has been,” Baxter said. “There are several ways a person can do it from visiting the office and doing it online.”

In order to participate in the early voting periods or on Election Day for each election, registered voters need to bring a valid photo identification to the polls. A Tennessee drivers license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee state government or the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable.

On each Election Day, Maury County residents must cast their votes in the district in which they reside.

The Maury County Election Commission hosts 21 polling stations across the county on Election Day. There is at least one polling location for each voting district in the county.

For additional information on precinct locations and more, contact the Maury County Election Commission at (931) 375-6001, or visit https://www.maurycounty-tn.gov/.

What positions are up for election in 2022?

Aug. 4 election:

  • Maury County Mayor

  • 22 County Commissioners in 11 Districts

  • All odd number school board seats

  • Maury County Sheriff

  • Circuit Court Judges 1, 2, 3 and 4

  • District Attorney for the 22nd Judicial District

  • Public Defender

  • County Trustee

  • General Sessions Judge Part I and II

  • General Sessions Associate Judge Part I

  • Maury County Circuit Court Clerk

  • County Clerk

  • Register of Deeds

  • Constables for each of Maury County’s 11 districts.

  • Primary selections for November election

Nov. 8 election:

  • Tennessee Governor

  • Columbia Mayor

  • Columbia Vice Mayor

  • Two Mt. Pleasant Commissioners

  • U.S. Senate

  • U.S. Congress

  • State Representative

  • Republican State Executive Committee Man

  • Democratic State Executive Committee Man

  • Republican State Executive Committee Woman

  • Democratic State Executive Committee Woman

Reach Mike Christen at mchristen@c-dh.net. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeChristenCDH and on Instagram at @michaelmarco. Please consider supporting his work and that of other Daily Herald journalists by subscribing to the publication.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Maury County, Tennessee, elections 2022: Voter guide for Columbia