by Sue Horn

The results of the Tuesday, June 9th combined General Primary and Presidential Preference Primary Election are in. A record number of mail-in votes (Absentee By Mail) were cast with the reason attributed to the continuing presence of CoVID-19 in Carroll County and possible transmission voting in person.

The local Educational SPLOST to benefit three area school systems passed. 63.72% of voters (13,595) said YES to renewing the one penny tax to begin January 1, 2023 to raise $143M. NO votes were 7,742, or 36,28%.

A runoff will be held for state court judge seat with Erica Tisinger, 11,609 votes (48.71%) and Met Lane 8,467 votes (35.53%) facing off Tuesday, August 11th. The third candidate in that race was Nathaniel Smith who received 15.76% of the votes, 3,757.

Carroll County incumbent Commissioner for District 5 Ernie Reynolds won hands down avoiding a runoff receiving 55.30% of the vote in a three way race with opponents Lee Powers and James Fulford. Powers received 26.05%, 877 votes, and Fulford received 18.65%, 628 votes.

There will be a runoff for the Republican candidates for State Representative District 18 between Cason Hightower and Tyler Paul Smith. Hightower earned 49.69% of the votes, 3,720 votes, and Smith earned 33.14%, 3,723 votes. The third candidate in that race was Lane Daniel at 17.17%, 1,285 votes. The August 11th runoff winner of District 18 will face Democrat candidate Pat Rhudy in November.

State Senator District 30 Mike Dugan was the only Republican in his race. Of the Democrat candidates, there will be a runoff between Triana Arnold James who earned 41.49% of the vote or 3,278 votes, and Montenia Edwards who earned 38.23% of the votes, or 3,020 votes. The third candidate in that race was Afoma Eguh-Okafor who received 20.28%, 1,602 votes. The winner of the runoff will face Dugan in November.

State Representative District 68 J Collins, Republican, was the only candidate in his race. He had a Democrat challenger, but she was disqualified to run by a judge in April.

The newest member of the Carrollton City Council is Jacqueline Elaine Bridges, earning 297 votes, 52.20%, with her opponents Rodney Ridley at 31.28% or 178 votes, and Danielle Fluck at 16.52% or 94 votes. Bridges earned more than 50% plus one vote avoiding a runoff.

Results for the four open Carroll County Board of Education seats:

District 1

Bernice Brooks is the winner at 53.07% 1,244 votes edging out incumbent Rob Cleveland by a margin of 144 votes at 46.93% or 1,100 votes.

District 3

Kerry Miller won over incumbent Bob Pinckney by a close 78 votes. Miller received 51.29% or 1,545 votes; Pinckney at 48.71% or 1,467 votes.

District 4

Incumbent Clayton Kierbow kept his seat with 65.18% of the vote, 1,649 votes, over challenger Jessie Strickland 34,82%, 881 votes.

District 6

Long time incumbent at 20 years on the Carroll County School Board of Education Bart Cater won with 67.17% of the votes, 1,950, against challenger Daivd Smith who earned 32.83% of the votes or 953 votes.