Alcohol referendums pass in Clarkesville and Cornelia
Habersham County voters voted down a measure on Tuesday that would have allowed the county to secure $31.7 million in general obligation bonds to pay for a new county jail.
With all of the county’s precincts reporting, unofficial election results show the jail bond referendum was defeated by a 157 vote margin – 1985 votes (52.06%) to 1828 (47.94%).
Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell and Jail Administrator Les Hendrix, along with other county officials, spent months visiting civic groups and holding town hall meetings to convey to the public why the county needs a new jail. In the end, they were unable to sway them.
Sheriff Terrell declined to comment when contacted by Now Habersham following Tuesday’s election.
Throughout the process, many voters said they agree that the county needs a new jail but did not want to have to pay higher property taxes to pay for it.
If the bond referendum had passed, county commissioners would have raised property taxes by 1.38 mills to cover the debt service on the bonds. That would have amounted to around $71 more per year on a $135,000 home.
Despite the general interest of the jail bond issue, Habersham County had a low voter turnout. Only 3,864 (14.65%) of the county’s 26,374 active registered voters cast ballots in the November 5 election. Of those, 6% voted early by mail-in absentee and in person.
Council races decided; commission race still in the air
While the jail bond was the big draw, there were other issues on the ballot in Habersham County.
Voters in Clarkesville and Cornelia overwhelmingly approved referendums on Sunday Brunch alcohol sales. As a result, restaurants in those cities will soon be able to sell alcoholic beverages and distilled spirits by the drink as early as 11 a.m. on Sundays.
Voters in Habersham also weighed in on several local elected offices.
In a crowded field of five candidates, Darrin Johnston was the top vote-getter in the District 5 county commission race. Johnston received 1054 votes for 28.78% of the total. Tim Stamey received the second-highest number of votes with 876 (23.92%). Since neither received more than 50% of the vote, Johnston and Stamey will face off in a runoff on December 3.
Voters re-elected Wesley Dodd, Jr. as Cornelia’s Ward 4 City Commissioner. Dodd received 104 votes (55.91%) to challenger Mark Reed’s 82 votes (44.09%).
“ I appreciate the support of those in the Ward that voted for me and will work hard to better Cornelia,” Dodd says.
And in Demorest, John Hendrix and Nathan Davis were the two top vote-getters in a three-person race for two open city council seats.
John Hendrix received 143 votes (44.41%) to Davis’s 131 votes (40.68%). Jerry Mobley received 48 votes. (14.91%).
Newly-elected Demorest council members thank their supporters
Baldwin canceled its municipal election back in September after only three candidates qualified for three open city council seats. All three were unopposed.
Here are the complete unofficial results of the November 5 election:
HABERSHAM COUNTY
Jail Bond Referendum
Shall general obligation bonds in an aggregate principal amount of up to $31,700,000 be issued by Habersham County, Georgia to finance a new jail?
YES 1828 (47.94%)
NO 1985 (52.06%)
District 5 County Commission Seat (to fill the unexpired term of Ed Nichols)
George Locke Arnold 501 (13.68%)
Michael D. Gosnell 547 (14.94%)
Darrin Johnston 1054 (28.78%)
Tim Stamey 876 (23.92%)
Barry Trotter 661 (18.05%)
Write-In Votes 23 (.63%)
CLARKESVILLE
Sunday Brunch Sales Referendum
Shall the governing authority of the City of Clarkesville be authorized to permit and regulate Sunday sales of distilled spirits or alcoholic beverages for beverage purposes by the drink from 11:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.?
YES 149 (69.30%)
NO 66 (30.70%)
CORNELIA
Sunday Brunch Sales Referendum
Shall the governing authority of the City of Cornelia be authorized to permit and regulate Sunday sales of distilled spirits or alcoholic beverages for beverage purposes by the drink from 11:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.?
YES 207 (70.89%)
NO 85 (29.11%)
Mayor
John Borrow 265 (98.88%)
Write-In Votes 5 (1.12%)
City Commission, Ward 1
Wesley A. Dodd, Jr. 104 (55.91%)
Mark Reed 82 (44.09%)
City Commission, Ward 4
Tony Cook 41 (100%)
DEMOREST
City Council
Nathan W. Davis 131 (40.68%)
John P. Hendrix 143 (44.41%)
Jerry R. Mobley 48 (14.91%)
