Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE - Races are on for mayor of two of Gwinnett's 15 cities, after just the first day of municipal qualifying Monday.

In Duluth, retired school principal Nancy Harris was joined by semi-retired businessman Jim Johnson in the race to replace Shirley Lasseter in the city's top office. Lasseter has said she will seek a county commission seat instead of another term as mayor.

In Norcross, Mayor Lillian Webb was challenged for another term by Michael Lovelady, a former councilman who ran against Webb in 2005. Both qualified Monday.

During the first day of qualifying, only one other challenge surfaced. In Lawrenceville, Councilman Bob Clark was challenged by Mark Burson, the son of Mahlon Burson, who retired in 2005 after 26 years on the city council.

Outside of Gwinnett, two men qualified for Winder's mayor race. Don Graden and Chip Thompson will campaign to replace Buddy Ouzts, who has said he won't seek re-election.

SideBar: The candidates

The following people have qualified for office in various cities in Gwinnett and Barrow counties. Information was not available from Rest Haven and Carl. The qualifying period begins Wednesday in Bethlehem.

(i) indicates incumbent.

Auburn

' Council: Tauheed Ferguson

Berkeley Lake

' Mayor: Lois Salter (i)

Braselton

' Council District 1: Richard Mayberry (i)

' Council District 3: Tony Funari

Buford

' City Commission: Philip Beard (i)

' School board: Daren Perkins (i)

Dacula

' Council: Hubert Wells

Duluth

' Mayor: Nancy Harris, James Johnson

' Council: Post 4 Doug Mundrick (i)

' Council Post 5: Maxine Garner

Grayson

' Mayor: Jim Hinkle

' Council: Allison Wilkerson (i) and Suzanne Hawkins (i)

Lawrenceville

' Council Post 3 Bob Clark (i), Mark Burson

Council Post 4: P.K. Martin(i)

Lilburn

' Mayor: Diana Preston

Council Post 1: Johnny Crist

Council Post 2: Scott Batterton (i)

Loganville

' Council: Wendell Geiger

Norcross

' Mayor: Lillian Webb (i), Michael Lovelady

' Council: Charlie Riehm (i), Terry Bowie (i)

Snellville

' Mayor: Jerry Oberholtzer (i)

' Council Post 1: Kelly Kautz (i)

' Council Post 2: Todd Warner

Sugar Hill

' Council Post 1: Steve Edwards (i)

' Council Post 2: Marc Cohen (i)

Suwanee

' Mayor: Dave Williams

' Council Post 1: Jimmy Burnette (i)

' Council Post 2: Jeannine Rispin (i)

Statham

' Council: Mike Aaron (i), Hattie Thrasher (i)

Winder

' Mayor: Don Graden, Chip Thompson

' Council: Charlie Eberhart (i), Larry Evans (i), Frank Dunagan (i)