More candidates for local and state elections, eight from Cobb County, qualified to run for office on Wednesday, as time to enter the races begins to fade. Anyone wishing to enter the July 20 primary election must do so by noon Friday.

Will Fowlkes, chairman of the Cobb County Democratic Party, said District 2 Cobb school board member Holli Cash qualified Wednesday.

Other Democrats qualifying Wednesday for Cobb seats in the Georgia Assembly included Patrick Thompson, 52, of Roswell, who is running for the District 21 state Senate seat; District 39 State Rep. Alicia Thomas Morgan, 31, who is currently running unopposed; and Unity Network and Counseling Center, Inc. Founder and CEO Steven Lee, 46, of Atlanta, who is running to be District 44's state representative.

Lindsey Tippins, 60, a Republican and Cobb School Board member for 12 years, from 1997 to 2009, put all speculation to rest Wednesday as he qualified to run against incumbent John Wiles (R-Marietta) for the District 37 state Senate seat.

Republican Buddy Simpson, 43, of Kennesaw, qualified for the District 32 state Representative seat held by Judy Manning (R-Marietta).

Cobb Republican Party Chairman Scott Johnson said four Republicans qualified for local races Wednesday -two for Cobb school board and two for the Cobb County Board of Commissioners. Stephen Moon of Marietta entered the three-person race for former Commissioner Tim Lee's District 3 seat. Current District 1 Commissioner Helen Goreham also qualified Wednesday to run for re-election against former Kennesaw Mayor Leonard Church.

For the Cobb school board, Republicans Scott Sweeney and Bill Borden qualified Wednesday. Sweeney is running for the Post 6 seat, currently held by Dr. John Crooks, who is not seeking re-election. Borden qualified for the Post 4 seat, currently held by Dr. John Abraham, who is also not seeking re-election.

As for local seats in the U.S. Congress, Dave Orr, a Republican from Smyrna, qualified for the District 13 U.S. Representative seat held by David Scott (D-Smyrna).