Two of the four local seats will need runoffs following Tuesday’s General Primary Election.
Seats for County Commission Post 4 and Board of Education Post 4 will be decided Tuesday, June 16, as will seven for national and statewide seats when early voting begins Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12.
Voting for the runoffs will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Brantley Elections Office in Nahunta. You did not have to vote in the primary to be eligible to vote in the runoffs.
Votes for the General Primary Election were certified Friday, May 22.
Justin Bowers collected 48.6 percent of the votes (1,541 of 3,171 ballots) in the five-person County Commission Post 4 race to fill the seat vacated by Brian Hendrix. He will face off with former commissioner Ray Griffin, who garnered 18.2% (578 votes).
John “J.D.” Thompson (439) received 13.8%, Mathew Mc-Grath (383) netted 12.1% and James Duncan (230) finished with 7.3%.
The Post 4 seat on the BOE board will be decided between retired educators Richard Gill (37.8% - 1,295 of 3,427 ballots cast) and Teri Gibson (32.7% 1,119) in what was a four-person race to fill the seat of Cliff Adams.
Former board member Brenda Sue Johns (20.4% - 700) and Kalyn Gilleon (9.1% - 313) were the other two candidates.
There were a total 3,574 ballots (29.1% - 12,030 registered voters) cast over the three-week early voting period (1,441) and May 19 Election Day (2,108). A total of 25 absentee ballots were received.
Incumbent Andy Riggins returns for a second term after winning the County Commission Post 5 three-person race. Riggins received 55.4% (1,738 of 3,137 ballots cast) of the votes.
J.T. Flanders (34.4% - 1,078) and Whitey A. Schrack (10.2% - 321) were second and third respectively.
The Board of Education Post 2 seat was captured by Lynn Daniels (53.3% - 1,830 of 3,435 ballots cast) over incumbent Kathy Hendrix (46.7% - 1,605), who served one term.
Topping the list of runoffs is the Republican nomination for governor between Burt Jones and Rick Jackson. Jones, the current Lt. Governor, led the primary voting 358,008 (38.4%) to 303,518 (32.5%) statewide and 1,678-923 in Brantley County. They were among the eight seeking the Republican nomination.
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms easily won the Democrat nomination over Jason Esteves — 607,303 (56.2%) to 201,647 (18.7%). Bottoms won in Brantley County 106-28 over Michael Thurmond, who ran third statewide.
Also contested will be the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate to face sitting Democrat Jon Ossoff in November will be between Mike Collins (369,501 - 40.5%) and Derek Dooley (275,438 - 30.2%). Sitting District 1 Congressman Buddy Carter (25.1%), who ran third statewide, topped the Brantley County vote with 1,679 to 1,152 for Collins and 283 for Dooley.
Incumbent Tyler Harper (R), who was unopposed, will face Democrat Katherine E. Juhan-Arnold (62.1%) for Agriculture Commissioner.
Both parties will have runoffs for Lieutenant Governor. John F. Kennedy (27.3%) and Greg Dolezal (23.1%) will battle for the Republican nominee. Kennedy captured Brantley County with Dolezal fourth.
Josh McLaurin (41.4%) or Nabilah Parkes (39.5%) will represent the Democrats. They finished 1-2 in Brantley County.
Republican Brian Strickland (71.6%) will face (D) Tayna Miller (84.5%) for Attorney General. Both carried Brantley County.
Incumbent Richard Woods (49.9%) and Fred Longgrear (29.1%) will vie for the Republican spot for School Superintendent. Woods topped Longgrear in Brantley County.
Lydia Powell (50.5%), who carried Brantley County, will represent the Democrats.
Each party will have runoffs for Secretary of State. Representing the Republicans are Tim Fleming (39.2%) and Vernon Jones (27.3%). Jones topped Fleming in Brantley County.
The Democrats are represented by Penny Brown Reynolds (42.3%) and Dana Barrett (35.2%) Barrett carried Brantley County.
(R) Jim Kingston captured District 1 in the U.S. House of Representatives. He awaits the Democrat runoff winner between Joyce Marie Griggs and Amanda Hollowell.
District Attorney Marilyn Bennett was unopposed for Waycross Judicial Circuit. Jeffrey Kight was unopposed for Judge of the Superior Court in the Waycross Judicial Circuit.
