Voters around Cherokee County will have some decisions to make come August, particularly regarding the Cherokee County School Board.

Five local residents — Alex Copeland, Dr. Marcia Duncan, Ron Garner, Alan McEntire and David Wright — have joined the races for the four school board seats up for election.

Copeland was the first of many to make their candidacy official during the course of this week, filing to challenge incumbent school board trustee Mike Ellis for his seat in District 1. He is the second person who has announced their intention to seek that seat, joining Michael Nix, who filed hours after the twoweek period began May 28.

Garner and Wright filed Wednesday to oppose Amanda Knowles in District 5.

Lindley Auton (District 7) will also have company on the August ballot, learning she will defend her seat against Duncan and McEntire.

No one had filed to challenge Barry Bailey in District 3 as of late Thursday afternoon, according to Suzanne Turner of the Cherokee County School Board.

“It got quite busy as expected the closer we get to the (June 11) deadline,” Turner said. “But I do not know if anyone else is coming in though. No appointments for (today) have been made.”

While most current school board trustees learned who their opponents will be this August, incumbents on Gaffney City Council are one step closer to retaining their places on the governing body. No one has filed yet to oppose city councilmen Boone Peeler (District 5), Thomas Reid (District 2) and Bernard Smith (District 3) as the filing period winds to a close.

Also without challengers are Blacksburg Mayor David Hogue and District 2 representative Mike Patterson, both of whom filed last week. Meanwhile, town councilman Joe Ross will have to fend off Blacksburg businesswoman Suzanne Patterson to retain his seat on the municipality’s governing body.

The two-week filing period ended today at noon.

The elections are scheduled for Aug. 11.