The qualifying deadline to run in the 2018 Democratic and Republican primaries is 5 p.m. CST on Friday, Feb. 9. The party primary election will be taking place on Tuesday, June 5.

It should be an active campaign season. A number of candidates have qualified in both parties, and there’s still time for late comers to get into a race.

One of the more interesting races locally will be for the office of Chambers County Probate Judge. Incumbent Brandy Easlick has qualified with the Democratic Party to seek reelection. LaFayette attorney Susan Harmon has qualified to seek the office as a Democrat. On the Republican side, Valley City Council Member Paul Story has qualified to run for probate judge. Chambers County Republican Party Chairman Cary Baldwin told the Valley Times-News that he will resign his current position to seek the office. He has previously served the county as probate judge. He wasn’t required by state law to resign as the local party chairman, but he said that he wanted no leave no question of a conflict of interest.

Several seats on the Chambers County Commission are up for election this year. District 5 incumbent David Eastridge has qualified to run in the Republican primary. He will have at least one opponent. Johnny Yates has qualified with the GOP to seek that seat. District 3 incumbent Joe Blanks is seeking another term as a Democrat. James “Moto” Williams has qualified to run for that seat as a Republican. In District 6, Debra Riley and Bo Colley have qualified to seek the office as Republicans.

Debbie Wood, the incumbent in District 6, is giving up her seat to run for the District 38 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives. The incumbent, Valley attorney Isaac Whorton, is passing up a reelection bid to run for circuit judge. He is seeking the Place 2 seat being vacated by the retiring Tom Young.

Mike Segrest, son of former Circuit Judge Dale Segrest, will run for the seat as a Democrat.

Incumbent Judge Steve Perryman of Valley has qualified for another term as circuit judge.

Long-term State Sen. Gerald Dial is giving up his District 13 seat to run for Secretary of Agriculture and Industries. He has opposition on the Republican side from Cecil Murphy and Rick Pate.

Debbie Wood has opposition in the party primary from Todd Rauch, a veteran who lives in Lee County. The winner of that race will face a Democrat in November. Brian McGee has qualified as a Democrat to run for the District 38 seat.

Bob Fincher, the incumbent in District 37, has qualified for another term. Thus far, he has no Republican opposition but he will face a Democratic opponent in November. Charlotte Clark-Frieson of Roanoke has qualified to run for the seat as a Democrat. District 37 includes much of Chambers County.

There’s an interesting race shaping up in the Third Congressional District. Long-time Republican incumbent Mike Rogers has no GOP opposition thus far, This fall, he’ll face a challenge from a former Miss America. Mallory Hagan has qualified to run for the seat as a Democrat.

There’s another interesting race shaping up in race for the District 13 seat being vacated by Gerald Dial. Three candidates, Randy Price, Mike Sparks and Tim Sprayberry, have qualified to seek the seat as Republicans. Darrell Turner has qualified for the seat as a Democrat.