Columbia County voters can cast their ballots in the general primary/nonpartisan general election on Tuesday, May 21.

State House of Representatives District 131 is up for grabs as Jodi Lott, who has held the seat since 2105, is not seeking a fifth two-year term.

Republican candidates for the seat include Evans resident Benjamin Cairns, a Georgia Military College professor and former Marine; Grovetown resident David Byrne, a former defense contractor who now works in cyber security at a hospital; Martinez educator and veteran Paul Abbott; Rob Clifton, CEO of Clifton Construction who was raised in Columbia County, and Russell Wilder, who owns Top Shelf Cigar and Tobacco Shoppe in Evans.

If none of the candidates receive more than 50% of votes, a runoff will be held on June 18. Democrat Heather White, a retired Evans military intelligence officer, is running for the seat as well.

Three candidates also are vying for the state House of Representatives District 125 seat. Currently, the seat is held by Republican Gary Richardson, a former county commissioner who was elected to complete the unexpired term of Barry Fleming in a runoff in March. Fleming vacated the seat after he was appointed as a Columbia County Superior Court judge.

In a repeat of the runoff, Richardson will face Republican CJ Pearson in the special election to appear on the ballot in November for the chance to serve a full term in District 125. Democrat Kay Turner also is running for the seat.

Republicans Michael Carraway and Rickey Merideth Sr. are vying to fill Richardson’s unexpired term as the District 3 representative on the county Board of Commissioners. Richardson had to resign from his position when he declared his candidacy for the state House seat.

Martinez residents Trey Allen and Mark Petersen are running for the District 2 seat on the Board of Commissioners.

For more information, visit columbiacountyga.gov.