The Results Are In
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The Lyons City Council Ward 1 race is headed to a runoff election, as incumbent City Councilman Tracy Johnson faces James Shell to determine who will represent the district, and the Alamo Municipal Election will undergo a recount as a result of the recent election.
On Tuesday, November 4, citizens took to the polls to vote on municipal and public service commission seats, as well as a school bond referendum and ballot question in Vidalia, Lyons, and Toombs County.
In Lyons, former City Councilman Larry Griggers, incumbent City Councilman Tracy Johnson, and James Shell went head-to-head for a chance to represent Ward 1. Griggers received 9 votes, Johnson received 30 votes, and Shell received 38 votes – no one received the required 51% total of ballots cast. Because of this, Johnson and Shell will now face off in a run-off election, which will be held on Tuesday, De- continued from page
cember 2. Voters wishing to receive mail-in ballots can begin requesting them online at mvp.sos.ga.gov. Information about early voting will be shared in the coming weeks.
A total of 78 citizens of the 371 registered voters in Ward 1 cast their ballots, averaging a 21.02% turnout for the ward.
Incumbent Ward 2 City Councilwoman Cathy Benton was reelected to serve four more years on the Council, as she defeated former City Councilwoman Sonja Eason on a 125-76 vote. A total of 202 individuals cast their ballot in the race, totaling 39.15% of the 516 citizens registered to vote within the ward.
Alamo City Council Race
In Wheeler County, the Alamo City Council race came down to the wire, as the final city council representative was elected by a single vote.
Incumbent City Councilwoman Patricia Woodard and Councilman Geoffrey Villegas, Angelia Wright, and Ty’Quez Smith threw their names in the hat to represent the citizens of Alamo during the recent election. Wright received 102 votes (36.69%), Woodard received 77 votes (27.70%), Villegas received 50 votes (17.99%), and Smith received 49 votes (17.63%).
Because of the singlevote margin between Villegas and Smith, a recount of the ballots will be held on Friday, November 14, at the Alamo Service Center at the Board of Elections office, located at 16 W. Forest Ave. in Alamo. All candidates and the public is invited to attend. For more information, call (912) 568-0095.
Because Alamo City Council members do not represent specific wards, these leaders are voted on by all citizens within the city. With three seats up for grabs on the Council, the three individuals receiving the most votes will represent the city – meaning, unless overturned by the recount, Wright, Woodard, and Villegas will begin their new terms at the beginning of the year.
School Bond Referendum Citizens in Toombs County were able to share their opinion on whether Toombs County Schools could receive a generation obligation bond, which would allow them to build a new facility for the Heavy Equipment Operations and Construction Pathways, as well as renovate Booster Stadium with new bleachers and bathrooms.
This bond was approved by the citizens on a 1,089 to 434 vote, authorizing the school to secure the bond, which will act as a loan for the work. A total of 1,574 of the 9,708 voters cast their ballots on the matter, averaging a 16.21% turnout.
The bond can only be used for the construction and renovation of the projects for which it was earmarked. The financing will be paid back through the Education Special Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST), which is collected each month.
Ballot Question
Voters in Vidalia, Lyons, and Toombs County also voted on whether or not Redevelopment Powers could be used within the cities and counties.
The Redevelopment Powers Law allows governments to revitalize blighted or underdeveloped areas by creating special districts, such as Tax Allocation Districts. These Districts allow parties to develop the specific areas without paying property taxes while starting up, but to later return the investment through taxes and economic boost of the region. These powers allow for public-private partnerships, infrastructure improvements, and tax incentives to spur private investment.
The ability to use these powers passed in Vidalia, with 731 citizens approving the usage and 252 opposing it. This was a 16.29% turnout, as 1,011 of the 6,206 registered voters in Vidalia cast their ballots.
In Lyons, 339 citizens supported the action, while 86 citizens opposed this new ability. This was a 22.34% turnout, as only 473 of Lyons’ 2,117 registered voters cast their ballots.
Countywide, 1,787 citizens agreed that the county should be able to utilize the Redevelopment Powers, while 708 citizens opposed. This marked a 16.24% turnout, as only 2,585 of the County’s 15,914 registered voters cast their ballots.
PSC Election
Statewide, newcomers Alicia M. Johnson (D) and Peter Hubbard (D) defeated the incumbent Public Service Commission District 2 Commissioner Tim Echols (R) and District 3 Commissioner Fitz Johnson (R).
Yet, locally, the incumbent commissioners received the most votes.
In Montgomery County, Commissioner Echols received 436 votes while Alicia M. Johnson received 298 votes, and Commissioner Fitz Johnson also received 436 while Peter Hubbard received 281 votes.
In Toombs County, Commissioner Echols received 1,644 votes while his opponent Alicia M. Johnson received 865 votes. Commissioner Fitz Johnson received 1,664 votes, while his opponent Hubbard only received 835 votes.
In Treutlen County, a total of 249 citizens cast their ballots for Commissioner Echols while 227 citizens selected Alicia M. Johnson as their choice of representative, and 247 citizens vied for Commissioner Fitz Johnson to represent them while 218 voters selected Peter Hubbard.
In Wheeler County, Commissioner Echols received 275 votes to Alicia M. Johnson’s 187 votes, and Johnson received 278 votes to Hubbard’s 187 votes.
The new commissioners will begin this role in January, as they are sworn in to begin leading.
