Election season is officially here

The 2010 Primary election is less than six weeks away – Election Day is August 24 – and the ballot for Douglas voters is beginning to become clearer.

While Douglas’ voters ballots will have little impact on county election during the Primary, it could go a long way to deciding who are candidates for federal and state offices in the November 2 General Election.

Most of those running for count y offices – Superior Court Judge, Clerk of the Superior Court, and Justice of the Peace, are either unopposed for the office or unopposed within their party.

The one local race that has received the most attention is that for Justice of the Peace3 in Precinct 2. The race pits Democrat incumbent Alma Vildosola against Republican challenger Alice Novoa-Benson.

This is not the first time these two have faced off at the ballot box or in court.

Earlier this year, an effort to dispute Vildosola’s qualification to be on the ballot was thrown out.

The only county race with any competition in the Primary election is that for the Republican nomination for Superior Court Judge, Division II. John Kelliher, Jr. , Roger H. Contreras and Karl Elledge all seeking the Republican nomination while Mark Usage is the lone Democrat.

In the two other Superior Court Divisions, the candidates are unopposed: Republican Charles Irwin in Division I and Republican Wallace R. Hoggatt in Division III.

Incumbent Democrat Denise Lundin is facing Republican Mary Ellen Dunlap for Clerk of the Superior Court.

Federal and State Offices:

Following is a breakdown of the candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and state administrative positions.

U.S. Senate

√ Democrats – John Dougherty, Cathy Eden, Rodney Glassman, William Koller (write-in) and Randy Parraz.

√ Republicans – Jim Deakin, J.D. Hayworth and John McCain (incumbent)

√ Green Party - Jerry Joslyn.

√ Libertarian - David F. Nolan

U.S. House of Representatives – District 8

√ Democrat – Gabrielle Giffords (incumbent).

√ Republicans – Andy Goss, Jesse Kelly, Brian Miller, Jonathan Paton and Jay Quick.

√ Libertarian – Steven Stoltz.

State-Arizona Legislature

Arizona Senate-District 25

√ Democrat – Manny Alvarez (incumbent).

√ Republicans – Gail Griffin and Craig Smith.

Arizona House of Representatives – District 25

√ Democrat – Ken Davis, Patricia Fleming (incumbent), and Ruben Ortega.

Republican – Peggy Judd and David Stevens (incumbent)

Governor

√ Democrat – Terry Goddard

√ Republican – Jan Brewer (incumbent), Jette Matthew, Dean Martin and Buz Mills. John Munger and Tom Gordon have already withdrawn from the race.

√ Green – Larry Gist

√ Libertarian – Ronald Cavanaugh, Barry Hess, Bruce Olsen and Alvin Ray Yount.

Secretary of State

√ Democrat – Chris Deschene and Sam Wercinski.

√ Republican - Ken Bennett

Attorney General

√ Democrat - David Lujan, Vince Rebago and Felicia Rotellini.

√ Republican- Tom Horne and Andrew P. Thomas.

State Treasurer

√ Democrat – Andrei Cherny

√ Republican – Ted Carpenter, Doug Ducey, Barbara Leff and Thayer Verschoor

Superintendent of Public Instruction

√ Democrat – Penny Kotterman and Jason Williams

√ Republican – Margaret Dugan, John Huppenthal and Beth Price.

State Mine Inspector

√ Democrat – Manuel Cruz

√ Republican – Joe Hart.

Corporation Commission

√ Democrat – David Bradley, Jorge Luis Garcia and Renz Jennings.

√ Republican – Brenda Burns, Gary Pierce and Barry Wong.