Athens-Clarke County residents will see four familiar faces returning to the ACC Commission next year.
In two of three contested races for the commission, incumbent candidates won easily. In District 2, Melissa Link defeated challenger Jason Jacobs, 68 – 32. In the East side’s District 8, incumbent Carol Myers knocked off her opponent, Sidney Waters, 72 – 28. In an open-seat race in District 6, former County Auditor Stephanie Johnson surged past business owner Rashe Malcolm 58 – 42.
Two commissioners on the ballot, Allison Wright and Mike Hamby, ran unopposed.
Turnout in Athens was low, with under 20 percent of registered voters coming out to vote.
Other Athens races:
- In Board of Education District 2, incumbent Claudia Butts is headed to a runoff with Mary Bagby on June 18. Three other Board of Education members ran unopposed.
- Sheriff John Q. Williams won the Democratic primary for Clarke County Sheriff, and because there were no Republican candidates in the race, will return to office for a second term. Williams pulled in 65% of the vote over challenger Tommy Dorsey.
- In the open seat race for Clarke County Tax Commissioner, JP Lemay beat Brant Spratlin, 62 – 38.
- In an open race for coroner, Michael Eberhardt easily won over William C. Gaulden, Jr. by a margin of 80 – 20.
Oconee County races:
- Oconee voters overwhelmingly approved a package of property tax tweaks that will see significant increases in the county’s homestead exemption.
- County Commission Chairman John Daniell handily won another term, defeating Pamela Lohr Hendrix 78 – 22. In the race for Post 4 on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners, incumbent Mark Saxon bested Victoria Cruz, 83 – 17.
- Michael Ransom won the GOP primary for Board of Education Chairman, Post 1 by a margin of 78 – 22 over Joyce Reifsteck. Adam Hammond picked up 70% of the vote in the Republican primary for BOE Post 4. He will face Democrat Sheri Ward Long in November. In BOE Post 5, Brock Toole won the GOP primary and will face Democrat Katie Green in the general election.
State lawmakers cruise through primary challenges; Democrats pick Doherty to run against Collins
- Republican State Senator Frank Ginn won handily on Tuesday, defeating challenger Ross Harvin 62 – 38. He faces Democrat Conolus Scott in November.
- Republican State Representative Marcus Wiedower also won easily, besting John Michael Grigsby in the GOP primary, 83 – 17.
- In a contested race for the Democratic nomination for US House in District 10, Lexy Doherty won 59 – 41 over Jessica Fore.
- In a contested race for Georgia Supreme Court, incumbent Andrew Pinson beat challenger John Barrow 55 – 45.
Around the region:
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- In Jackson County, a four way race in the Republican primary for Sheriff saw Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Training Director Kevin McCook winning the primary without a runoff with 64 percent of the vote.
- In Morgan County, six candidates were seeking to replace incumbent Sheriff Robert Markley, who did not run. Johnny Pritchett and Tyler Hooks will compete in a runoff on June 18.
