Former City Councilman John Lively has decided to run for House District 27 rather than the County Commission.

Mr. Lively said he decided to do so after Red Bank Mayor Pat Brown opted out of the race to replace Rep. Chris Clem.

Another potential GOP candidate, Hayes Ledford, vice president for public affairs at the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, said he is weighing whether to get in the House District 27 race. He said he and his wife had their first child on Monday afternoon, "and that is taking all my attention now."

Mr. Brown said he decided not to run despite getting "tremendous encouragement" to make the race. He said, "I really believe I had the support to win the nomination, and I had the financial backing. But it came down to the fact that I did not have the intense desire to run."

Mr. Brown said he did not want to give up his local activities, including mayor of Red Bank, and he said he felt the job might be too much like the sales job he had for 30 years.

Mr. Lively, who lost his City Council post last year, had earlier planned to run for County Commission District 6. He said he decided to run for the House instead after learning that Mr. Brown was not going to be a candidate and that Mr. Ledford might not run.

Mr. Lively said, "After Chris announced he was not running, I began to get some encouraging calls to make that race. I feel I can be a conservative voice for the district and a consensus builder in Nashville. I have the ability to work with people and get things done."

In other election news, attorney Hank Hill picked up papers to run for judge of Division 1 of General Sessions Court. Attorney Joey Warwick picked up for judge of Division II of General Sessions Court.

Robert Brian Johnson of Soddy-Daisy picked up as a Democratic candidate for county mayor.

Tim Price picked up for County School Board District 3 and Kelvin Stamps for County School Board District 9.

County Commission 1
Fred Skillern (R) (Qualified)

County Commission 2
Richard Casavant (R) (Qualified)
Jimmy Holloway (R) (Qualified)
Joe Dumas (I)

County Commission 3
Terry Conley (R) (Qualified)
James A. "Al" Smith (R)
Aaron Shipley (R)
Earl Ray Rader (R)
Jim Coppinger (R)

County Commission 4
Brian Caldwell (R) Qualified
William Cotton (D) (Qualified)
Warren Mackey (D) (Qualified)

County Commission 5
Greg Beck (D) (Qualified)
Rev. Bernie Miller (R) (Qualified)

County Commission 6
John Brooks (D)
Lou Miller (D) (Qualified)

County Commission 7
Red Burrows (R) (Qualified)
Larry Henry (R) (Qualified)
Curtis Smith (R) (Qualified)

County Commission 8
Curtis Adams (R) (Qualified)
John Bailes (D) (Qualified)

County Commission 9
Bill Hullander (R) (Qualified)

County Mayor
Claude Ramsey (R) Qualified
Shirley Deakins (I)
Robert Brian Johnson (D)

Trustee
Carl Levi (R) (Qualified)

Register of Deeds
Pam Hurst (R) (Qualified)

Circuit Court Clerk
Paula Thompson (D) (Qualified)

County Clerk
Bill Knowles (D) (Qualified)

Juvenile Court Clerk
Ron Swafford (D) (Qualified)

District Attorney
Bill Cox (R) (Qualified)

Criminal Court Clerk
Gwen Tidwell (D) (Qualified)
Johnny Horne (R) (Qualified)

Public Defender
Ardena Garth (D)

Sheriff
David Alverson (R) (Qualified)
Anthony Chatman (D) (Qualified)
John Cupp (R) (Qualified)
Henry "Hank" DeArman (D) (Qualified)
Andy Derryberry (R) (Qualified)
Billy Long (D) (Qualified)
Jim Swafford (D)
Ronald Ray Parson (D)

Criminal Court Judge Division I
Barry Steelman (R)
Rodney Strong (D)

Criminal Court Judge Division II
Rebecca Stern (R) (Qualified)

Criminal Court Judge Division III
Don Poole

City Court Judge Division I
Sherry Paty (Qualified)
Gerald Webb

City Court Judge Division II
Russell Bean (Qualified)

Circuit Court Judge Division I
Jackie Schulten (D) (Qualified)

Circuit Court Judge Division II
Jeff Hollingsworth (R) (Qualified)
Jack Benson Jr.
Richard Pettit (R)
Jeffrey Atherton (R)
Tom Crutchfield (D) Qualified

Circuit Court Judge Division III
Marie Williams (R) (Qualified)

Circuit Court Judge Division IV
Neil Thomas (R) (Qualified)

Chancery Court Judge Part I
Frank Brown (R) (Qualified)

Chancery Court Judge Part II
Howell Peoples (D) (Qualified)

Juvenile Court Judge
Suzanne Bailey (R) Qualified

General Sessions Court Division I
Christy Mahn Sell
Bob Davis (Qualified)
Mike Acuff
Carl Huskins
Hank Hill

General Sessions Court Division II
David Bales (Qualified)
Hallie McFadden (Qualified)
Joey Warwick

General Sessions Court Division III
Clarence Shattuck (Qualified)

General Sessions Court Division IV
Ron Durby (Qualified)

General Sessions Court Division V
Bob Moon (Qualified)

Collegedale City Judge
Kevin Wilson

Soddy-Daisy City Judge
David Norton

Signal Mountain City Judge
Bill Speek
Robert Philyaw (Qualified)
James Kennamer (Qualified)
Mark Rothberger

Red Bank City Judge
Gary Disheroon
Johnny Houston (Qualified)

County School Board District 3
Everett Fairchild
Tim Price

County School Board District 5
Jeffrey Wilson
William Jones

County School Board District 6
Janice Boydston

County School Board District 8
Kenny Smith (Qualified)

County School Board District 9
Chester Bankston (Qualified)
Kelvin Stamper

Congress Third District
Zach Wamp (R)
Doug Vandergriff (R)
Terry Stulce (D)
Betty Faye Williamson (D)

Senate 11th District
David Fowler (R)

House District 26
Gerald McCormick (R)

House District 27
John Lively (R)
Hayes Ledford (R)
William "Bill" Lusk (D)
Richard Floyd (R)

House District 28
Tommie Brown (D)

House District 29
JoAnne Favors (D)

The primary election is May 2, and the general election is Aug. 3.