Sheriff Candidates Contest Filing Deadline

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Thursday marked the final chance for candidates interested in public office in Shelby County to enter the upcoming Primary Election. Shelby County Election Commissioners say a mayoral race and sheriff's race always draw interest. There may even be a higher turnout as there are no incumbents running in either of those races.

The Shelby County Election Commission will meet next Thursday to certify the ballot for the County Primary in May.

"In some races there are fewer candidates than expected," said Bill Giannini with the Election Commission. "Others, more. But I don't see anything unusual about it."

There are a number of positions up for grabs, including Shelby County Mayor and Sheriff. The most up to date list shows 6 people vying for mayor. Shelby County Clerk, Otis Jackson, just joined the group.

There are 10* candidates looking to replace Sheriff Mark Luttrell, who's withdrawn from the race and is running for mayor. However, Giannini says two names won't actually appear on the ballot, those of James Bolden and Elton Hymon.

While the filing deadline for the primary election was Thursday at noon, candidates for Sheriff had to meet a separate deadline for training certification with the state.

That deadline was Thursday, February 4th and Giannini says James Bolden and Elton Hymon, both former Memphis Police officers, missed it.

"The majority of the candidates understood what the requirements were and met them," said Giannini.

Exceptions have been made after arguments over whether or not candidates running for Sheriff were given ample notice of the additional requirements with the state, but Giannini says that's not the case this time.

"Candidates for Sheriff are given a separate packet than candidates running for trustee and it's clear in that packet that the deadline is there."

Bolden and Hymon tell FOX13 that as former law enforcement officers, they are currently on file as certified with the state and wondered why their information still needed to be sent in.

Both say they plan to attend next week's certification meeting and plead their case before Election Commissioners.

*Dale Lane is also running for Shelby County Sheriff on the Republican ticket.