Campaigns for two hotly contested Wilkes County offices are ramping up as candidates for Sheriff and for Probate Judge reach out to voters prior to the November general election.

Mark Moore, who edged out Mike Sisson in the Democratic primary runoff earlier this month, is challenged by Republican candidate Jeff Johnson for the November election. "I'm going to try to get out door-todoor and meet and greet as many people as I can," Johnson said.

Moore said that, after a hard primary campaign, he, too would plead his case in person to the voters of Wilkes County. "I intend to get out and see as many people as I can, and ask for their vote and support."

In the nonpartisan races, eight candidates are running for Probate Judge, two for Magistrate Judge, and three for a Board of Education seat.

Candidates running to succeed the retiring Judge Jim Burton as Judge of Probate Court include Tammy Thornton Bryngelson, Rod Canterbury, Deborah L. Davis, Thomas Charping, Will Long, Kimberly J. Rainey, Jill Rogers, and Jerry E. Thornton.

The candidates running for Chief Magistrate are the incumbent, Rosa Lee Martin, and Tommy Saggus.

In unopposed races, long-time Wilkes educator and newly retired W-WCHS principal Andrew Jackson is running without opposition for the Wilkes Board of Education District 3 seat held by Kelly Powell.

Incumbent Wilkes Co. Board of Education Chairman Ricky Callaway is running unopposed for his position again, as is incumbent Board of Education District 4 member Steve Albertson.

Also running unopposed in the November election are incumbent Clerk of Superior Court Mildred Peeler, incumbent Tax Commissioner Mary W. Hubbard, and candidate for Coroner Jane Echols.

For the Wilkes County Commission, Ed Geddings is unopposed in November for the District 2 seat, as is incumbent Divenski Lee in District 1.

Whatever the outcome of the campaigns, history will be made in November, Judge Burton said. Since Jack E. Newsome is running unopposed as a Republican candidate for Wilkes County surveyor, his election will mark the first Republican elected in Wilkes County in living memory.