- The Board of Education runs the public school system. The Board of Education is entirely independent from the rest of the county government.
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and appoint the superintendent to run the schools day to day.
- Board of Education members are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.

Part of the board that governs your county's public school system

Georgia

2022 General Election

2022 Primary Elections

2022 Primary Elections Runoff

Teacher Pay

College & Career Readiness

Access to Education

School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

Teachers

County Board of Education Member

- Despite their name, State Courts in Georgia have limited jurisdiction within their county. State Court Judges also have limited jurisdiction over the types of cases they hear, as opposed to Superior Court. 
- State Court Judges hear misdemeanors, like traffic tickets. They also issue arrest and search warrants and hold preliminary hearings in some criminal cases. 
- State Court Judges hear most civil matters that aren't related to land titles, divorce, or cases involving non-monetary damages (those matters are handled by the Superior Court).
- State Court Judges are elected in non-partisan county wide elections and serve four year terms. The Governor can appoint State Court Judges when vacancies arise. 


Local Judges who hear misdemeanors and some civil cases

Tift

Criminal Justice

Consumer Protection

Legal Experience

Ethics & Conduct

Judicial Philosophy

Judicial Administration

Community Involvement

State Court Judge

- The Solicitor General oversees the prosecution of any misdemeanors or minor infractions to Georgia statutes or local laws. Misdemeanors might include driving under the influence, disorderly conduct, or low-level theft. 
- Solicitor Generals have discretion over whether to press charges, whether to seek jail time, or whether to send individuals to a pre-trial diversion program. They also have the power to negotiate plea deals with defendants. 
- In addition to prosecuting cases, the Solicitor General provides advice and counseling to victims of crime.
- Solicitor Generals are elected in county elections to four year terms.

The chief lawyer representing your county in misdemeanor cases

Public Safety

Victim Assistance

Solicitor General

- Georgia Superior Court Judges hear a wide range of criminal cases from petty theft and public drunkenness to murder. Some cases in front of the Georgia Superior Court involve the death penalty. 
- On the civil side, Superior Court Judges hear cases on divorce, titles to land, contract disputes, and premises liability. 
- Superior Court Judges are elected by judicial circuit. Each county surrounding Atlanta has its own judicial circuit, while rural judicial districts typically consist of multiple counties.
- Superior Court Judges are elected to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. The Governor can appoint Superior Court Judges when vacancies arise. 

Trial Judge over a wide range of civil and criminal cases

Tifton

Property Rights

Superior Court Judge

- The US Senator is a member of the United States Senate, the upper house of the United States Congress. There are a total of 100 US Senators. Georgia, like every other US state, has two senators. 
- US Senators have a great deal of power when it comes to bringing the concerns of their state to the national arena. US Senators can author, sponsor, amend, debate and vote on bills which may become national law. 
- US Senators have an important role in deciding who runs the federal government. They hold confirmation hearings for most presidential appointees, including new Supreme Court Justices and Presidential Cabinet Members.
- Senators can be appointed to committees which focus on particular issues. Examples include the Appropriations Committee, which handles budget planning, or the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which is a diplomatic body that welcomes foreign delegations.
- Senators are elected to six-year terms in statewide elections. US Senators are paid a salary of $174,000/year.

One of two federal lawmakers representing Georgia in the US Senate.

Economic Growth

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Economy

Healthcare

Environment

Voting & Elections

Education

US Senator

- The Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner (Insurance Commissioner for short) oversees the office that regulates insurance companies to make sure they’re following state law.
- The Insurance Commissioner works with insurance companies to set prices for all types of insurance including health, automobile, and home. 
- The Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner acts as Georgia’s top fire marshal. Their office conducts inspections of buildings and houses to prevent fire outbreaks and keep the public safe. 
- In October 2021, the former Georgia Insurance Commissioner Jim Beck was sentenced to over 7 years in prison for wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and tax fraud. For this reason, corruption is one of the top issues we highlight for this office.
- The Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner is a statewide position that is elected to four-year terms.

Regulates the insurance industry and ensures fire safety in Georgia

Corruption

Healthcare Costs

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner

- The Secretary of State runs many important administrative functions for Georgia, including overseeing elections, professional licensing, and business filings. 
- When it comes to elections, the Secretary of State is in charge of supervising and monitoring elections, managing the voter registration process, and preparing ballots.
- The Secretary of State is in charge of registering new businesses so they can legally begin operations. They are also in charge of renewing business licenses and permits.
- In addition to these responsibilities, the Secretary of State also manages and preserves public records, provides educational programs about the capitol, and oversees Georgia’s securities’ market.
- The Secretary of State is elected to 4 year terms by statewide election.

Oversees elections, voting, and business licensing in Georgia

Small Businesses

Voting Access

Secretary of State

- The State School Superintendent is the Administrative Head of the Georgia Department of Education. They are responsible for putting into action the policies and regulations that come out of the State Board of Education for Georgia’s K-12 public education system. 
- The State School Superintendent provides guidance to the State Board of Education and local school boards on how to comply with new state education laws, such as changes in funding or new curriculum requirements.
- The State School Superintendent can make recommendations to the State Board of Education, a board of 13 members who are all appointed by the Governor and set policies for the public school system.
- The State School Superintendent is elected statewide. They serve four year terms.

The administrative head of Georgia’s K-12 public education system

Teacher Recruitment

State School Superintendent

- The Agriculture Commissioner focuses on enforcing regulations that protect and promote agriculture in Georgia. 
- The Agriculture Commissioner enforces regulations dealing with food safety and food access. Their actions can affect the price and quality of food sold in grocery stores and restaurants across the state.
- The Agriculture Commissioner is elected to 4-year terms in statewide elections.

Oversees agriculture and food quality in Georgia

2022 Georgia candidates

Tift County Board of Education Member, District 6, Republican Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Tift County Board of Education Member, District 2, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Tift State Court Judge

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Tift Solicitor General, Republican Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Georgia Superior Court Judge, Tifton

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Georgia US Senator, Democratic Primary

2 candidates

How this impacts you

Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, Democratic Primary

3 candidates

How this impacts you

Georgia Secretary of State, Republican Primary

4 candidates

How this impacts you

Georgia State School Superintendent, Democratic Primary

4 candidates

How this impacts you

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner, Republican Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you