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Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham announced today that he will seek re-election.

Cunningham, 68, is serving his first term in the office. He had a 36 year career as an attorney before retiring in 2006. He served as U.S. Attorney for East Tennessee under President George H.W. Bush. He also served as a captain in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.

County Commissioner Wendy Pitts Reeves, a Democrat, will face possible competition for her District 4 seat in the 2010 general election ­— if she runs for re-election. Reeves is planning to run for office in 2010 but has declined to specify which one. If Reeves doesn't run for County Commission, she has several other options in 2010. Local offices up for election include county mayor. On a state level, all of the seats representing Blount County in the state House of Representatives will be up for election.

Former Daily Times publisher Jerome Moon has picked up a petition to qualify for the Republican nomination for Reeves' seat but has not officially announced his candidacy.

Reeves was the first of two commission Democrats to be targeted for opposition in 2010 election. Republican Richard Center of Maryville took out a petition Monday to qualify for County Commission District 5, Seat B, which is held by Robert Proffitt, a Democrat.

So far, however, no Republican candidate has filed to run for Democrat David Ballard's District 1 seat.

The 2010 campaign season officially started Nov. 20 with prospective Blount County governmental candidates picking up petitions to qualify for the May 4 primary election.

So far, 28 people have picked up petitions:

James Berrong, a Republican, for re-election as sheriff. He was first elected in 1990.

Joseph Charles Birdwell for Rockford City Commission. The race is non-partisan.

Richard Center, a Republican, for County Commission District 5, Seat B, held by Commissioner Robert Proffitt.

Brandon Cook, a Democrat, for County Commission District 1, Seat A, held by Commissioner Tonya Burchfield.

Roy Crawford, a Republican, for re-election as county clerk.

Phyllis Crisp, a Republican, for Register of Deeds. She is a long-time employee of the office. Current Register Penny Whaley has decided to retire at the end of this term.

Bill Dunlap, a Republican, for re-election as Highway Superintendent.

Gary Farmer, a Republican, for re-election to Commission District 4, Seat A.

James A. Frye, a Republican, for Circuit Court Clerk, which is held by Tom Hatcher.

Roy A. Gamble, a Republican, for Commission District 8, Seat A, held by Commissioner John Keeble.

Scott Graves, a Republican, for re-election as County Trustee.

Tom Greene, a Republican, for election to County Commission District 7, Seat B, which is held by David Graham, who is not seeking re-election.

Steve Hargis, a Republican, for re-election to County Commission District 7, Seat A.

Brad Harrison, a Republican, for re-election to County Commission District 2, Seat A.

Mark Hasty, a Republican, for re-election to County Commission District 4, Seat B.

Tom Hatcher, a Republican, for re-election as Circuit Court Clerk.

Robert L. Headrick, a Republican, for General Session Judge, Division 4, which he holds.

Scott Helton, a Republican, for re-election to County Commission District 7, Seat B.

Gerald Kirby, a Republican, for re-election to County Commission District 10, Seat A.

Holden Lail, a Republican, for re-election to Commission District 6, Seat A.

Peggy Lambert, a Republican, for Commission District 5, Seat A, which she holds. She returned her petition. It has been certified.

Mike Lewis, a Republican, for re-election to Commission District 2, Seat B. He returned his petition. It has been certified.

Kenneth Melton, a Republican, for re-election to Commission District 10, Seat B.

Jerome F. Moon, a Republican, for County Commission District 4, Seat C, held by Commissioner Wendy Pitts Reeves, a Democrat. The information initially provided to The Daily Times by the Blount County Election Commission incorrectly listed Moon as registering for the District 4, Seat A, race.

Steve Samples, a Republican, for re-election to County Commission District 3, Seat A. He is currently the chairman of the County Commission.

Jim Scully, a Republican, for County Commission District 7, Seat B, held by Graham. Scully is a former chairman of the Blount County Planning Commission.

James E. Taylor, a Republican, has taken out petitions for District 8, Seat A and B, which are held by Keeble and Commissioner Mike Walker, respectively; however, he can only turn in one petition.

Cook, 29, is making his second run for public office. He unsuccessfully tried for the District 7 County Commission seat back in 2002 as a 22-year-old and was the chairman of the Blount County Democratic Party in 2006. He is employed by Clayton Bank and Trust as a loan processor.

Headrick was appointed to the judgeship in September 2008 to replace David Duggan, who had won election to the Blount County Circuit Court, Division II, judgeship.

Lambert, currently the national committeewoman for the Tennessee Republican State Committee, has a long history with the local party. In January, she was appointed to serve out the remainder of former Commission Chairman Robert Ramsey's term. He resigned after being elected as 20th District state representative.

The qualifying deadline for the county primary is noon on Feb. 18, 2010. It requires 25 valid signatures from voters to quality. Potential candidates have until the qualifying deadline to take out petitions. The first day to take out qualifying petitions for the state primary is Jan. 1.