And the winners are …
Don Hastings works on a tally sheet in the upstairs courtroom as boxes are called Tuesday night. Hastings will face a runoff with opponent Norris Lewey.
The people have spoken.
Tuesday’s primary narrowed down a number of local races for the General Election in November, with citizens casting their votes for County Commission Districts 2 and 4, Franklin County Board of Education District 4 and Franklin County superintendent.
Turnout at the polls was high, with steady voter traffic throughout the day, according to Probate Judge Barry Moore. The weather, Moore said, did not seem to impact voter participation, although rain and gloomy conditions prevailed.
“It was busy all day,” Moore said. “We got to thinking, ‘Well, it will be busy this morning, but once that rain comes in, it’s going to stop,’ but it stayed busy.”
Moore said there were no major problems at any polling locations. Minor problem occurred, like “machines that ballots might have gotten jammed up in.” “But we got those straightened out,” he said.
Box results were slow coming into the courthouse as candidates and their friends and family waited anxiously in the courtroom and main lobby, milling back and forth with tally sheets in hand.
Unofficial results follow, 25 out of 26 precincts reporting – all but provisionals, representing eight votes.
County Commission District 2
The winner of the County Commission District 2 race was, by a vote of 1,378 to 1,222, Wyman Pounders, who beat opponent Terry Bolton with 53 percent of the vote.
“I’m just thankful it came out like it did,” Pounders said. “I want to thank my wife for helping me and my family supporting me and the people of Franklin County for coming out and voting. I’m honored.” He thanked Bolton for clean race – “one of the best races ever.” Pounders said he felt his experience of three and a half years as commissioner put him over the top. As to the General Election in November – “I expect a good turnout. I have a lot of people who have told me they will vote for me.”
“Carol and I want to thank those who supported us in the race,” Bolton said. “I want to encourage my family, friends and supporters to help Wyman Pounders in the general election … He has been actively involved in the county, and I cannot say the same for his Republican opposition.
Pounders will face off with Republican nominee Jason Miller in November.
County Commission District 4
In the primary race for County Commission District 4, both Republican and Democratic voters had a choice to make.
In the Democratic race, a runoff will ensue between Don Hastings and Norris Lewey.
“I’m a little bit surprised,” Hastings said. “I’ve done so much for Franklin County. It’ll be an interesting runoff.”
“I’ll have to work harder, that’s for sure,” he said. “I’ll have to get in touch with more people.”
Lewey expressed similar surprise at the closeness of the race. “I’ve got to get out and work and meet the people,” he said.
Hastings pulled 931 votes to Norris Lewey’s 977 votes – 36.73 percent and 38.54 percent, respectively. Opponent Anthony Bentley received 627 votes.
Whoever wins the runoff April 12 will run for the position against William David Hester in November, who received 70.62 percent of the vote as compared to opponent Wade Inmon’s 29.38 percent of the vote.
Franklin County BOE Place 4
Shannon Oliver received the Democratic nomination for the Franklin County Board of Education Place 4, receiving 61.36 percent of the vote (316) compared to opponent Eddie Britton’s 38.64 percent of the vote (199).
Oliver said he is excited and ready to get back to work.
Franklin County Superintendent
The Democratic nominee for superintendent, running against Republican Bart Moss in November, will be Donald Borden, who claimed 59.39 percent of the vote (1,281). Opponent Johnny Cleveland received 40.61 percent of the vote (876).
“I’m very thankful and humbled by the good showing,” Borden said. He said now is the time to focus on the coming general election. “We’ll just kind of regroup and see where we need to go from here.” He thanked Cleveland for a positive campaign.
“I just thank God for the opportunity, and I thank all my friends and supporters and new people I’ve met. It’s been fun,” Cleveland said. “I think this will give me a better base with my parents from all the talking we’ve done over the past several months.”
In the local referendum, yes votes totaled 4,763 to 1,844 no votes – 72.09 to 27.91 percent, meaning a continued 1 percent tax to benefit local schools and county ATRIP matches.
