Graham Raley to step down; Incumbents plan to run again
Second district county commissioner Graham Raley has announced he will not seek re-election in this year’s primary, even as incumbents began declaring their candidacies for the upcoming May election.
Raley, who is currently serving his first term, announced last Thursday he will not run for re-election.
“We are building a new house and I will be moving out of the district and won’t be eligible to serve,” Raley explained.
The move will not occur until early 2027, so Raley will serve out his current term, which ends Dec. 31 of this year.
Raley said it has been his honor and privilege to serve the residents of district two. He hinted that he plans to continue to serve in some capacity.
“This is not goodbye—it’s just I’ll see you later,” he said.
Raley’s announcement comes as other incumbents have begun announcing their intentions to run for reelection.
The county commission and the board of education both set qualifying fees for the general primary, non partisan and general election during their first regular monthly meetings last week.
Seats up for election in the partisan primary this year include solicitor, county chairman and districts two and four on the county commission.
State Court Solicitor Adam Ferrell, County Chairman Neal Bennett and District Four Commissioner David Lowman have all announced their intentions to run for re-election.
Ferrell and Bennett are currently completing their third terms in office, while Lowman is completing his second term.
Qualifying fees are $1,114.53 for solicitor, $540 for county chairman and 187.56 for commission seats 2 and 4. The qualifying fees are based on a percentage of the annual salaries for the respective jobs. Qualifying fees for the county commission seats are also based on the longevity of the incumbent.
Non-partisan races are state court judge and BOE chairman and districts two and four on the school board.
State Court Judge Dan Bennett Jr., BOE Chairman Duward Boatright and Perry Tison (District 2) and Wendy Puryear (District 4) have all announced their intentions to run for re-election.
Bennett is completing his third term on the state court bench.
Boatright has served as school board chairman since the resignation of Linda Zechmann in 2020. Zechmann moved out-of-state leaving the vacancy. Boatright was elected to a full term in his own right in 2022 and announced his re-election campaign last week.
“I believe that our Pierce County Schools need to—and must continue in the same direction academically that they have been the past several years for a better future for our children and nation,” he said. “A big thanks goes to all of our employees.”
Tison was appointed in 2024 to fill the unexpired term of the Rev. Mitch Hall. Hall resigned when he moved out of his district. Puryear was appointed to fill Boatright’s seat when he became chairman in 2020. Boatright previously represented district four. Puryear was elected to a full, four-year term in 2022.
Qualifying fees for state court judge are $1,202.52 and chairman of the Board of Education are $180. Qualifying fees for the school board’s district two and four seats are $126.
A number of statewide, district and federal offices will also be up for election.
Early voting will be from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. April 27 - May 15, at the elections office at 312 Nichols Street. Saturday voting will be held from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. May 2 and 9.
Polls will be open election day from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 19. Deadline to register to vote is April 20.
A run-off election, if necessary, will take place Tuesday, June 16.
If there are partisan candidates in both primaries, those races will be decided as part of the general election Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Qualifying for the primary will take place Monday, March 2 - Friday, March 6. Qualifying will be from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday and from 9 a.m. - noon Friday, March 6.
Qualifying will be held at the Pierce County Board of Elections and Registration Office at 312 Nichols Street, Blackshear.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Early voting will be from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
April 27-May 15, at the elections office at 312 Nichols Street.
Saturday voting 9 a.m.-5 p.m. May 2 and 9.
Election day from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 19 Deadline to register to vote is April 20.
Qualifying for the primary Monday, March 2 Friday, March 6.
