GALLIPOLIS - Uncontested races for nominations in two countywide offices and three local option questions highlight the ballot in Gallia County's primary vote on Tuesday.

Polls in all voting precincts open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m., the Gallia County Board of Elections reported.

Incumbent County Commissioner Harold Montgomery, a Republican seeking a second consecutive term this fall, is the sole GOP candidate for the nomination. Local businessman Justin Fallon is the only Democratic candidate seeking his party's nomination to oppose Montgomery, who had previously served two terms as commissioner in the 1990s.

Larry M. Betz, elected county auditor in 1998, is running for a third term on the Republican ballot and is unopposed in the primary. Political newcomer Mark R. Kirkhart, who operates a farm near Rio Grande, is the sole Democrat seeking his party's nomination to oppose Betz.

For state representative in the 87th House District that includes Gallia, incumbent Clyde Evans of Rio Grande, a Republican first elected in 2002, is the only GOP candidate for nomination in the primary. On the Democratic ticket, Nick D. Rupert of New Plymouth is unopposed in his bid to challenge Evans in the November election.

State Sen. John A. Carey, the Wellston Republican who's represented the 17th Senate District that includes Gallia since 2003, is in the running for a second four-year term and is unopposed in the GOP aisle for nomination. April D. Howland of Chillicothe is the sole Democrat in the running for Carey's seat.

Local voters on both sides of the political forum will choose from several candidates looking to obtain their respective parties' nominations for the Sixth Congressional District seat that will be vacated by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland.

On the Republican ballot are State Rep. Chuck Blasdel, Noble County Commissioner Danny Harmon, former Belmont County Sheriff Richard D. Stobbs and minister Tim Ginter. Democratic voters will choose from Bob Carr of Wellsville, who's campaigned heavily in this area, John S. Luchansky of Poland, Ohio, and State Sen. Charlie Wilson of Bridgeport, a write-in on the Democratic ballot who appeared in Gallia County Friday night with Strickland (see relared story on today's edition).

Voters in Centerville Precinct will be asked to allow Sunday sales of beer, wine and mixed beverages at Jimanetti's on Pleasant Valley Road. In Green Precinct 1, Sunday sales of alcoholic beverages under a C-1 and C-2 permit at Spring Valley Marathon will be decided, while in Green Precinct 6, sale of beverages covered by C-1 and C-2 liquor permits at the Par-Mar Oil station on Ohio 141 at Centenary is also on the ballot, as is a separate question allowing Sunday sale of those items at the same location.

Gallia County voting locations include:

Gallipolis 1, St. Peter's Episcopal Church; Gallipolis 2, Grace United Methodist Church; Gallipolis 3, 4 and 5, First Church of the Nazarene; Addison Precinct and Addison Township, Addaville Elementary School; Cheshire Township, Cheshire Townhouse, Kyger Cemetery Road; Clay Precinct and Clay Township, Head Start (in the old Clay Elementary School), Ohio 7 South; Gallipolis Township, Gallia County Senior Resource Center; Kanauga Precinct, DAV/AMVETS Building; Green 1 and 3, Gallia County Health Department; Green 2, C.H. McKenzie Agricultural Center; Green 4, Gallipolis Christian Church; Green 5 and 6, Green Elementary School;

Greenfield Township, Greenfield Community Center at Gallia; Guyan Precinct, Crown City Village Hall; Guyan Township, Guyan Townhouse, Ohio 218; Harrison Township, Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Department, Little Bullskin Road; Huntington Precinct, Vinton Village Hall; Huntington Township, Vinton American Legion Hall at Ewington Academy; Morgan Township, Morgan Townhouse, Morgan Center Road; Ohio Township, Ohio Townhouse, Swan Creek Road; Perry Township, Perry Townhouse, Ohio 325; Centerville Precinct, old Centerville Elementary School; Rio Grande Precinct and Raccoon Township, Rio Grande Elementary School; Bidwell Precinct, and Springfield 1 and 3, Bidwell-Porter Elementary School; Springfield 2, Gallia Cornerstone Church, Ohio 850; Walnut Township, Cadmus Community Center.