Bohlen, Clack and Milton, Fitzgerald to be in runoffs

By Michael Prochaska
Staff Writer

A crowd of candidates, their families and supporters gathered Tuesday night at the Board of Elections office, waiting eagerly for election results - some leaving more pleased than others. 

Of Morgan County’s 12,082 registered voters, 4,733 (or 39.17 percent) cast their ballot.
Incumbent Mack Bohlen received 48.53 percent of the votes for a District 3 seat on the Board of Commissioners (BOC), whereas Philip Clack received 36.55 percent of the votes, causing a runoff between the two candidates.

Ron Milton received 51.09 percent of the votes for a District 5 seat on the Board of Commissioners (BOC), but for the special election – which requires the winning candidate to fulfill the unexpired term of the late Sammy Cathey – he received 48.79 percent of the votes, which means a runoff will be held between Milton and Fitzgerald, who garnered 41.97 percent of votes.

“I want to say thanks to all my supporters that stuck behind me through the election,” Milton said. “It was a long, hard ride.”
Erica Veasley, a Democrat, received 70.86 percent of the votes for a District 1 seat on the Board of Education (BOE), which means she will run against Richard Hodgetts, a Republican, in the Nov. 6 General Primary. Veasley defeated Robyn Cook, who garnered 29.14 percent of votes.

Incumbent Keith Howard received 70.09 percent of the votes for a District 3 seat on the BOE, defeating Marcia Malone, who garnered 29.91 percent of votes.

Charles Merritt received 66.88 percent of the votes for the office of Probate Judge, defeating Terry Evans, who garnered 33.03 percent of votes.

Of the candidates running unopposed, Jody Moss was elected Clerk of Superior Court, Robert Markley was elected Sheriff, Anna “Rennie” Nestor and Becky Lord Astin were elected Tax Commissioner and Adam Carter was elected Coroner.
Of nonpartisan candidates running unopposed, Carol Hunstein, Harold D. Melton, Hugh P. Thompson were elected Justices of Supreme Court of Georgia. All three candidates were incumbents.

Keith R. Blackwell, Michael P. Boggs, Louis A. Dillard, John J. Ellington, M. Yvette Miller and Herbert Phipps were elected Judges of Court of Appeals of Georgia. All six candidates were incumbents.

Hulane George, William Prior Jr., James Cline Jr. and Hugh V. Wingfield III were elected Judges of Superior Court of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit. All three candidates were incumbents. Connie Holt was elected Chief Magistrate Judge.
 
Referenda
In addition to elected offices, voters decided on several referenda, such as Sunday alcohol sales and a Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST).
Of Morgan County voters, 56.50 percent of them voted in favor of a county-wide package sales.
Of Madison voters, 61.93 percent voted in favor of city Sunday sales and 66.08 percent voted in favor of Sunday pouring sales.
Of Rutledge voters, 56.13 percent voted in favor of Package sales and 55.77 percent  voted in favor of Pouring sales.
A slim majority of Bostwick voters voted against Sunday Package sales, with 53 votes “no” and 51 votes “yes.”
A majority of Morgan County voters voted against TSPLOST, a decision mirrored by a majority of voters in the Northeast District.
 
U.S Representative and State Senate
For the District 10 U.S. Representative seat, Paul Broun received 69.14 percent of the vote, defeating Stephen Simpson.
For the District 5 State Senate seat, Burt Jones received 52.85 percent of the votes, thereby defeating Johnny Grant.
The only votes not yet counted as of press time Tuesday were those cast by those in the military living out of the country, or UOCVA voters-- “Uniformed Overseas Citizens Voter Act.
These voters have until mail delivery at the registrar’s office on Friday, Aug. 3, to get their vote turned in and counted in this run-off election.
 
Editor's Note: The statewide information used in this story was taken from the Georgia Secretary of State's Web site, sos.georgia.gov

Printed in the August 2, 2012 edition.