Huff, an environmental consultant, will face fellow newcomer Chinami Goodie in District 8, representing the eastside. Incumbent Sidney Ann Waters, who announced last week that she wouldn't run for re-election, did not qualify.

Huff said he felt "compelled" to run because he has a 2-year-old child and a 5-year-old about to start kindergarten at Whit Davis Elementary School and is concerned about recent controversies in the school district.

"I want to work constructively ... with the board to develop good policy and let the superintendent implement it," he said.

The board is scheduled to vote next month on tighter ethics policies after a showdown with Interim Superintendent James Simms, who threatened to resign last week and charged board members with meddling and micromanagement.

In particular, Huff said he'd like to look into starting a charter or magnet school similar to one in Augusta that he said is successful.

Payne, who represents District 2, including East Athens, will face J.T. Jones. Payne could not be reached for comment.

Three of four incumbents - Payne, Allison Wright and Charles Worthy - qualified to run for re-election this week. All but Wright are opposed. Jim Geiser will face Worthy in District 6, representing western Clarke County.

Two of five seats on the Athens-Clarke Commission will be contested. Mike Hamby, who ran for mayor as a Republican 12 years ago, but now runs Democratic campaigns, is taking on incumbent Elton Dodson in superdistrict 10.

Ed Robinson will take a second stab at joining the commission in an open District 6, but has to get past political novice Red Petrovs. Incumbent Carl Jordan, as promised, did not qualify for re-election.

Sims and commissioners Alice Kinman and Andy Herod are running unopposed.

None of the judges in Clarke and surrounding areas who are up for re-election will be opposed save in Madison County, where Joley Barber and Cody Cross qualified to replace "Hoppy" Royston as Probate Court judge.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 062808