BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — With the filing clock ticking toward a 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 deadline, the 2026 May Primary ballot in Martin County is beginning to take shape as candidates line up to seek county and city offices.
As of Tuesday, the following candidates had filed for races. The list remains subject to change until the filing period closes.
Judge/Executive
Lon “Doc” Lafferty, 68, Inez, Republican
Sheriff
John Herman Kirk, 57, Inez, Republican
Kristopher Lang, 65, Lovely, Republican
Anthony J. Preece, 58, Inez, Republican
William Harvey Preece III, 45, Beauty, Republican
Austin Harless, 31, Debord, Republican
County Attorney
Melissa Fannin Phelps, 43, Tomahawk, Republican
County Clerk
Susie Skyles, 62, Beauty, Republican
Coroner
Chris Todd, 53, Inez, Republican
Jailer
Nicholas “Nick” Marcum, 44, Inez, Republican
Billy Lee Patrick, 50, Debord, Republican
Buddy Stacy, 49, Lovely, Republican
Oscar “Ock” Jude, 74, Lovely, Republican
Darrell Spence, 67, Tomahawk, Republican
Property Valuation Admin
Bobby Eugene Hale Jr., 51, Pilgrim, Republican
Magistrate, District 1
Cody Slone, 34, Inez, Republican
Magistrate, District 2
Kermit Howell, 42, Inez, Republican
Amanda J. Jude, 44, Debord, Republican
Magistrate, District 3
Chris Blackburn, 53, Tomahawk, Republican
Craig Keagan Haney, 47, Tomahawk, Republican
Tracy Spence, 52, Tomahawk, Republican
James Derrick Stepp, 47, Tomahawk, Republican
Magistrate, District 4
Joseph Hunt Jr., 47, Pilgrim, Republican
Eric Jude, 49, Inez, Republican
Magistrate, District 5
Ronald Workman, 72, Warfield, Republican
Constable, District 1
Bobby Gene Maynard, 71, Inez, Republican
Homer (Pickle) Mills Jr., 73, Inez, Republican
Constable, District 3
Kody Thomas Rainwater, 29, Grassy, Republican
Constable, District 4
James Brad Preece, Pilgrim, Republican
Constable, District 5
Melvin Mitchell Bowen, 62, Warfield, Republican
Warfield Mayor
Michael Hinkle, 58, Warfield, nonpartisan