The Aug. 7 election is just around the corner with early voting beginning July 18 and running through Aug. 2.

The last day to register to vote in the election is July 8.

The county trustee race, property assessor, Circuit Court judge, County Commission and Board of Education contests highlight the upcoming local election.

Monroe County’s two state representatives, Republicans Mike Bell and Jimmy Matlock, are unopposed in the state party primaries.

In the trustee race, incumbent Democrat Tammy Miller faces Marna Hull.

For property assessor, incumbent Republican Mike Shadden squares off against Democrat Floyd Shaffer.

Incumbent Democrat Ann Barker faces a challenge for the only County Commission race up for grabs from Republican Richard Kirkland.

Baker was appointed last year to the 2nd District County Commission seat left vacant when Mike Lowry resigned to become director of the Monroe County School System.

Twenty candidates are running for five School Board seats.

Three candidates are vying for one Fist District School Board seat, 10 are running for two 2nd District Seats and seven are competing for two Third District seats.

County School Board candidates do not declare a party affiliation.

Administrator of Elections Randall Moser said the Monroe County Election Commission is working on the Voter Guide mailed out to the county’s nearly 30,000 voters each county election.

“Hopefully, we will get it sent out the week of the (July) 14th,” he said.

The guide will have all kinds of information for county voters and information about the election is also available online at monroevotes.com.

Moser said only two places send out a voter guide in Tennessee, Memphis and Monroe County.

Monroe County was the first to begin mailing out a voter guide about five years ago, Moser said.

Early voting will take place at the Election Commission Office at 401 Main Street in Madisonville from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8:30 to noon on Saturdays.

The Advocate & Democrat will sponsor a Candidate Fair to give voters an opportunity to meet the candidates from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 17 at the Cora Veal Senior Center in Madisonville .

tommy.millsaps@advocateand democrat.com | 337-7101