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The Hamblen County primary election deadline came and went Thursday and the field is essentially set.

While the election will be May 5 – with early voting starting April 15 – there are a few administrative tasks to be completed before the ballot is official.

The deadline for candidates to change their mind and withdraw is Feb. 26 and at some point, the state political parties will verify the primary ballot.

Among the competitive primaries will be the races for Hamblen County Mayor, and Register of Deeds as well as several county commission seats.

The highest profile races will feature incumbent Republican County Mayor Chris Cutshaw against Dan Parks, who ran for the seat previously and was defeated by long-time County Mayor Bill Brittain.

There are three Republicans vying for the Register of Deeds seat being vacated by longtime Register Jim Clawson. They are Ann Hale, Billy Daniel and Todd Marshall.

Because no Democrats qualified in either the county mayor race or the Register race, the winner of the Republican Primary will be the presumed winner of the general election in August, again barring an unprecedented write in campaign.

Contested County Commission Republican Primary Races are:

• District 6: Incumbent Mike Richardson against challenger Joe Spoone

• District 7: Incumbent Kyle Walker against challengers Billy Samsel and Frank Lane.

• District 8: Les Center and Mark Johns running to replace Rodney Long who is not seeking re-election.

• District 9: Incumbent Jamie Carden against challenger Kimberly Coffey. The winner will face Independent candidate Johnny Walker in the general election

• District 11: Edward “Jody” Rhines and Matt Stuart running to fill the seat being vacated by Peggy Howell.

• District 12: Incumbent Bobby Haun versus challenger Leo Shalhoup, The winner will face Democrat Bryant Frankford in the August General.

• District 13: Incumbent Tim Horner versus challengers Gwendolyn Holden and Joe Downs Jr.

• District 14: Incumbent Edna Greene against challenger Ronald Scott Depew.

There are several unopposed Republican primary races in which no Democrat or Independent qualified. That means the candidate is all but assured of winning the seat barring a write-in campaign.

Uncontested candidates in both the primary and the general are:

• Trustee – Scotty Long

• Sheriff – Chad Mullin

• County Clerk – Peggy Henderson

• Circuit Court Clerk – Teresa West

• County Commissioner District 1 – Tom Hyde

• County Commissioner District 2 – Debbie A’Hearn

• County Commissioner District 4 – Wayne NeSmith

• County Commissioner District 5 – Mike Reed

• School Board Districts 5 & 6 – David Purkey

• School Board Districts 9 $ 10 – Jerrod Weems

• School Board Districts 11 & 12 – Sandy Dyke

There are a handful of races, in addition to the District 12 commission race, in which unchallenged primary winners will square off in the general.

They are:

• County Commission District 3: Democrat Joyce Cotner against Republican Jessica Mills

• County Commission District 10: Incumbent Republican Stan Harville against Democrat Allen D. Brooks.

In the School Board District 1 & 2 race, Independent incumbent Johnny Denton is unopposed.