Qualifying for the 2022 November election began today (January 4th, 2022) and a number of local offices will be on the upcoming ballot.

In Cherokee County the Office of Sheriff (4 year term), Cherokee County District Attorney (6 year term), Cherokee County Commission Districts 2 & 4 (4 year terms), Cherokee County Board of Education Place 1 & 2 (6 year terms), Cherokee County Coroner (4 year term) and Cherokee County Circuit Judge Place 3 (6 year term).

Candidates for District Attorney and Circuit Judge will qualify on the state level and NOT locally.

Qualifying is currently underway and will run through January 28th. In order to qualify, you must make an appointment by phone before the 28th. To schedule an appointment candidates can call 256-390-9287 or 337-353-8724.

For those that wish to qualify on the Republican ticket, the Cherokee County Republican Headquarters will be open on January 28th from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. that day.

The fees to qualify will two percent of the annual salary for the office in which you are qualifying for, that information will be provided to candidates at the time they qualify.

Qualifying fees are as follows:

• Circuit Judge- State GOP
• DA- State GOP
• Sheriff- $ 1,643.52
• County Commissioner- $ 650.50
• Coroner- $ 270.00
• School Board- $ 144.00

Effective beginning with the next term of office, the Sheriff of Cherokee County will receive an annual salary that is 60 percent of the annual salary of the District Attorney of the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Current annual salaries for offices mentioned above are as follows;

• Cherokee County District Attorney – $157,522.48 (Current salary and is based on years of service, subject to change with incoming DA)
• Cherokee County Sheriff – $79.056 (Current salary and is subject to change based on the salary of the incoming DA)
• Cherokee County Commission – $32,525.16
• Cherokee County School Board – $7,200
• Cherokee County Coroner – $13,500 (Gross)
• Cherokee County Circuit Judge – $140,000 (changes based on years of service)

Those that currently hold these offices include;

• Cherokee County Sheriff – Jeff Shaver
• Cherokee County District Attorney – Mike O’Dell
• Cherokee County Commissioners – Dr. Rogers Nichols (District #2), Carlton “Bubba” Teague (District #4)
• Cherokee County Board of Education – Kathy Mobbs (Place #1), Corey Colbert (Place #2)
• Circuit Judge Place #3 – Honorable Judge Jeremy Taylor
• Cherokee County Coroner – Paul McDonald (Interim)

On the State level, there are 13 Executive Offices up for election:

• Governor
• Governor
• Attorney General
• Secretary of State
• Treasurer
• Auditor
• State Board of Education (4 seats)
• Agriculture Commissioner
• Public Service Commission (2 seats)