Four candidates sign up for special elections

Four political hopefuls signed up on Wednesday’s first day of candidate qualifying: they will be on the ballots in November special elections to replace former Athens and Oconee County state Representatives Regina Quick and Chuck Williams, both of whom resigned last month, Quick to become a Superior Court Judge, Williams to be the next director of the Georgia Forestry Commission. Democrat Deborah Gonzalez will run in House District 117, while Republicans Tom Lord and Steve Strickland and Democrat Jonathan Wallace signed up to run in District 119.

The elections are set for November 7; runoffs, if necessary, would be held in December.