Stephens County — Four county commission seats, including two brand new ones and the county sheriff position, are contested in the Stephens County primary elections on Tuesday.

In the 2007 general election, Stephens County residents voted overwhelmingly to expand the three-seat commission by two seats, said state Rep. Jeanette Jamieson. All five seats are elected countywide.

“The present County Commission felt like it was needed, and obviously the public felt like it would be an advantage,” she said.

Candidates for Post 5 on the commission are Jim Ledford, 69, and Kathleen Jordan, 55, both of Toccoa, and both Democrats.

Ledford, a retired highway patrol officer and former county commissioner, said he wants to work closely with the chamber of commerce to bring more jobs into the county. Jordan, who currently works in retail, said she has fought for fair taxation for her entire 17 years in Toccoa.

Bill Good, 68, and Dean Scarborough, 53, both of Toccoa, will face off in the Republican primary for Post 5.

Good, who has owned a furniture and appliance store for 29 years, said he has been involved with Stephens County economic development for the last five or six years. Scarborough, owned a men’s clothing store for 25 years, said he supports creating new jobs through existing industries and soliciting new industries.

Candidates in both parties also will face off for the Post 3 seat on the commission.

Steve Tilley, 59, and Melvin Barrett, 60, both of Toccoa, will face off in the Democratic primary.

Tilley, retired vice president of Gainesville State College, wants to recruit viable businesses for the county and provide more job training at technical colleges. Barrett, who is retired, supports working with local unions to get businesses to the county.

Incumbent Kenneth Peeples, 68, of Toccoa will face Jonesy Haygood, 63, of Eastanolle in the Republican primary for Post 3.

Peeples, chairman of the commission for the past two years, said he has been involved in funding plans for many projects currently in Stephen’s County, including the new jail, waste water collection plant, and a new airport terminal. He emphasized his leadership over the past four years on the commission.

Haygood, a retired teacher of Stephens County high school, wants to bring more quality jobs to the county, cut excessive spending and lower taxes.

The position of county sheriff also has opposing candidates in each party.

Randy Shirley, 52, and former police chief of Lavonia, is running against Scotty Scarbrough, 37, deputy commander of the Appalachian Drug Task Force, in the Democratic primary.

Jimmy Mize, 41, the patrol commander and operations director for the sheriff’s office, will face Dennis Brewer, 57, a plumber with East State Plumbing, in the Republican primary.

All four candidates want to crack down on drug trafficking in the county.