Thursday's Internet Edition, September 09, 2010.

Making Waves A truck makes its way through flooded Main Street in Reedy late Monday morning. Photo by Jim Cooper

Early voting is still available today (Thursday) and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the county clerk’s office. The office will also be open for voting on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

“It’s picked up a little bit,” County Clerk Charlie White said of early voting numbers.

White said 335 people had cast their ballots at the courthouse through Tuesday. That is more than double the total from the same time a week earlier.

Election day is Tuesday, May 11, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The county’s 20 polling places are unchanged from the last election, with one exception. Voters in Precinct 13 will use the Linden Masonic Lodge, which is right across the road from the previous location, the Linden Clubhouse. White said the new site is an improvement and offers amenities including a kitchen and bathroom.

A total of eight candidates are on the ballot in the nonpartisan school board race. District I has five candidates – Greg Boggs, David Kinison, Chris Mealey, Dr. Tim Metzger and Sally Moore – and two will be elected.

Incumbent Tom Young and challengers Mark Kennell and Joe Ross are vying for a single seat from District III.

The three board members elected next week will win four-year terms that begin July 1.

In the county commission race, incumbent John Greathouse is facing a challenge in the Republican primary from Robin Stump, a member of Spencer City Council.

The Democrat race also includes two candidates, teacher Mark Craddock and insurance company representative Gary Mace.

Winners in the primary will face each other in the fall for a six-year term that begins Jan. 1, 2011.

In other contested races, Republicans will choose from incumbent Frank Deem and challenger David C. Nohe, both from Vienna, in the 3rd State Senatorial District.

Both Republicans and Democrats will select state and county executive committee members.

White noted that voters not registered with the Democrat, Republican or Mountain parties may request a ballot from either of those parties. All ballots include the board of education race.

There were 4,424 registered Democrats and 3,303 registered Republicans entering the primary election. Registration totals for other parties are as follows: Mountain (19), Libertarian (14), Socialist (2) and Communist (1). A total of 1,777 voters registered with no party affiliation.

The county’s voting machines successfully passed a public test Tuesday afternoon. White said he hopes the results of this year’s election will be known as soon as possible after the polls close.

“The poll workers all do a great job,” he said. “Barring any machine or natural disaster, I’m hoping will have an early night of counting.”