Crisp, Dooly, & Wilcox — Most of the cities in the tri-county area will be conducting elections this year, and qualifying for those seats is underway this week. Candidates have until 4:30 p.m. this Friday to declare their candidacy and pay the appropriate qualifying fees.

Crisp County voters also will go to the polls on Nov. 8 to cast their ballots in an education SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) referendum.

In Cordele, the terms of Commissioners A. J. Rivers (Ward 1) and Jimmy Black (Ward 4) expire at the end of the year. Candidates for those two offices must file a notice of candidacy and notice of intent to accept campaign donations with Finance Director Edward Beach at City Hall.

Anyone who is seeking the Ward 1 post will pay a qualifying fee of $341.69 while candidates for the Ward 4 post will pay $320.34.

Arabi Mayor Alan Douglas and Councilmen Lee Clark and Larry Pate will be seeking re-election if they wish to remain in their positions after the first of 2012. Qualifying continues today and tomorrow for the three posts with the fee for all three offices set at $18. Clark represents Post 3 and Pate serves Post 4.

The terms of Vienna Mayor Emerson Lundy and Councilmembers Eddie Daniels and Brenda Gramm also expire at the end of this year. To qualify to run for the mayor’s office, candidates must pay a $35 fee and complete the necessary paperwork at City Hall before 4:30 p.m. Friday.

A $14.40 fee is required to run for either of the available council seats.

In Unadilla, Incumbent Mayor Charles West must run to hold onto his position. Candidates for that office should qualify at City Hall and pay a fee of $141.79 before 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Three Unadilla council seats are up for grabs and include those presently held by John Offenburg, Lewis Lockerman and Greg Speight. All the elections in Unadilla except mayor are at-large so regardless of the number of candidates, the three top vote getters will win. Council candidates must pay a $121.21 qualifying fee.

In Pinehurst, candidates may qualify for the mayor's seat and pay a $35 fee or for one of three council seats, all of which require a $7.20 fee. Council elections are at-large. Incumbents in Pinehurst include Mayor Walter Blount and Councilmembers Connie Christmas, Lee Cross and Talmadge Dupree.

Byromville voters will elect a mayor and four councilpersons. All qualifying fees are $3.60. Incumbents whose terms expire this year are Mayor Kenneth Lester and Council members Carla Howard, Gladys Hardrick, Conshelloah Clayton and Perry Fountain.

Candidates for the three available council seats in Abbeville must qualify before close of business today (Thursday) and pay an $18 qualifying fee. Marlin Craft and Michael Estes are the only two incumbents as one former office holder, Norma Bloodworth, already has retired.

If more than three candidates seek council seats in Abbeville, the three who gain the most votes will assume office in January.

Pineview also has only two incumbents whose terms expire since former Councilman Lester Mahogany resigned this past December and has not been replaced.

Three council seats are available in that city including the two presently held by Cindy Walls and Betty Ewing. Candidates will pay an  $18 fee, and the three who receive the most votes in November will be sworn in at the beginning of 2012.

Pitts voters will choose a mayor and the entire five-member council. To qualify to run for mayor, candidates must pay a $20 fee by 2:30 p.m. today since City Hall will not be open Friday. Sandi Guest presently holds that office.

The council seats held by Alecia McKinley, Terry Phillips, Phil Conner, Ann Stone and Jeff Wessel all are up for grabs this year. This is an at-large election with the five candidates who receive the most votes taking office in January. That qualifying fee also is $20.

No city elections are planned for this year in Rochelle.