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Chesterfield County voters will head to the polls next Tuesday to elect government leaders for local, regional and national offices, settling political battles that began early this year.

Both Democratic and Republican candidates faced several obstacles in filing for office last spring, and many endured lawsuits aimed at keeping their names off the ballot. And, as a result of the filing problems, many candidates spent the summer gathering enough petition votes to have their names printed on the November ballot.

The only problem this may cause for candidates is “straight party” voting. Petition candidates will not be listed with a political party. For example, in the Chesterfield County District 9 race, there are three candidates: incumbent Robert Cole, Catherine Thompson and Theodore Burns. Both Thompson and Burns originally filed for office through the Democratic Party, however, they will be listed on the ballot as petition candidates. Cole’s is the only name that will appear under the Democratic Party. Therefore, voters are encouraged to know how their chosen candidates are listed on the ballot before casting straight party ballots.

All voting polls in Chesterfield County open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

According to Ernestine Shray of the Chesterfield County Voter’s Registration Office that are 18 different ballots for this election in Chesterfield County. Not every voter will be electing county council members, as these offices alternate terms so that an entire new council is never elected at once.

Election campaigns, running unopposed, also include these offices:

Chesterfield County Solicitor Circuit 4: Will Rogers, Democratic candidate.

Chesterfield County Clerk of Court: Faye Sellers, Democratic candidate.

Chesterfield County Coroner: Kip Kiser, Democratic candidate.

Chesterfield County Auditor: Jack Rivers, Democratic candidate.

Chesterfield County Treasurer: Kathy B. Sheeler, Democratic candidate.

A Special Election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 13, for District 9 of the Chesterfield County School Board. Candidates for that office are Wayne Chapman and Johnnie McLendon.

— Staff Writer Karen Kissiah can be reached by calling 843-537-5261, or by email at kkissiah@heartlandpublications.com.