Cherokee TV

Election Results - Cherokee Decision 08

Tom Brooks
Tuesday, July 15, 2008

All incumbent Cherokee County elected officials with opponents in the July 15 general primary election garnered victories over their challengers.

Two county commissioners, two Board of Education members and the sheriff were re-elected to new four-year terms in the Republican primary as each are unopposed in the Nov. 4 general election. No Democratic candidates signed up for 2008 county contests.

The Cherokee County Elections and Registration Office reported turnout was 14.7 percent - 16,649 of the county's 113,255 registered voters. Elections officials are slated to certify the July 15 results on July 18.

In addition to the local contests, several statewide races are part of the summer primary season.

The only primary contest remaining is the Aug. 5 runoff for selection of the Democratic nominee for this year's U.S. Senate race.

Post 2 County Commissioner Jim Hubbard of Hickory defeated challenger Quentin Thomas of Woodstock. Hubbard claimed 4,232 votes, or almost 55.5 percent. Thomas received 2,284 votes, or almost 30 percent. William Grizzle of Hickory Flat, who announced he was backing Thomas, but remained listed as a candidate for the Post 2 seat, received 1,116 votes, or 14.2 percent.

Post 3 County Commissioner Karen Mahurin of BridgeMill won over challenger Joel Calhoun. Mahurin received 3,433 votes, or 59.5 percent. Calhoun, a resident of Acworth, garnered 2,334 votes, or 40.5 percent.

Hubbard and Mahurin were first elected to office in 2004.

Sheriff Roger Garrison of Canton defeated challenger Nicole Ebbeskotte of Woodstock for a new four-year term. Garrison, who has been sheriff for f our terms, had 11,122 votes, or 79 percent. Ebbeskotte, a former sheriff's deputy, received 2,962 votes, or 21 percent.

Cherokee County School Board Post 2 incumbent Mike Chapman and Post 4 incumbent Janet Read were elected to new four-year terms that start in January.

Chapman, a Canton resident, received 8,410 votes, or 64.6 percent. Challenger Danny Dukes of Woodmont received 4,609 votes, or 35.4 percent.

Read received 7,650 votes, or almost 59 percent. Challenger David Farrow of Canton received 3,760 votes, or 29 percent. Challenger Robert Strozier of Woodstock received 1,571, or 12.1 percent.

Kim Cochran of Canton won the Republican contest for the Post 7 seat on Board of Education by defeating candidate Wes Frye of Sutallee. Post 7 incumbent Janet Flint didn't seek re-election.

Cochran, a former teacher, received 6,984 votes, or 56.3 percent. Frye received 5,423 votes, or 43.7 percent.

The two members of the Georgia House of Representatives from Cherokee with opponents in the Republican primary also won their July contests.

District 20 State Rep. Charlice Byrd, R-Towne Lake, was elected to her third two-year term. District 22 State Rep. Sean Jerguson, R-Holly Springs, won the Republican contest, and is slated to face Democratic challenger Bill Brown of Canton in the Nov. 5 general election in his bid for a second term.

Incumbent Sen. Chip Rogers, R-Towne Lake, was unopposed in the Republican primary. Rogers, who is in his second term, is slated to face Democratic challenger Carlos Lopez of Marietta in the Nov. 4 general election.

The other state lawmakers on the July 15 Republican ballots for seats representing portions of Cherokee County were unopposed for re-election.

District 21 Rep. Hill, R-Canton; District 23 Rep. Mark Hamilton, R-Cumming; and District 27 Sen. Jack Murphy, R-Cumming are unopposed for re-election.

Incumbent Cherokee County Surveyor Ron Wikle won the Republican contest with 7,742 votes, or 61.4 percent, over challenger Michael Martin, who claimed 4,878 votes, or 38.6 percent.

County officials without opposition to new four-year terms were District Attorney Garry Moss, Clerk of Courts Patty Baker, Tax Commissioner David Fields and Coroner Earl Darby.

James Drane, an associate magistrate judge, was unopposed in the Republican primary for Chief Magistrate Judge. The Canton resident is slated to succeed Judge Ben Abney, who didn't seek re-election. 

Keith Wood was the sole Republican candidate for chief probate judge, and is to succeed incumbent Judge Kip McVay,=2 0who opted to seek senior status as a judge instead of running for a new term.

The only race remaining for the Aug. 5 primary runoff is the Democratic U.S. Senate contest between DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones and former state lawmaker Jim Martin. Under Georgia election law, voters who cast ballots in the July 15 Democratic primary or those who didn't vote may cast Democratic ballots for the runoff.

The Democratic senate candidates are vying to face incumbent Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss, who is seeking a second six-year term in Washington, and Libertarian candidate Allen Buckley, in November.

Unofficial statewide results showed Jones received 194,678 votes, or 40.4 percent. Martin received 165,577 votes, or 34.3 percent. Dale Cardwell got 77,627 votes or 16.1 percent. Rand Knight received 25,288 votes, or 5.2 percent. Josh Lanier received 19,554, or 4.1 percent.

In Cherokee County, the unofficial tally showed Martin received 809 votes, or 40.2 percent. Cardwell received 541 votes, or almost 26.9 percent. Jones received 349 votes, or 17.3 percent. Knight got 225 votes, or 11.2 percent. Lanier received 90 votes, or 4.5 percent.

Incumbent U.S. Sixth District Rep. Tom Price was unopposed in the Republican primary in his bid for a third two-year term representing Cherokee and portions of Cobb, Fulton, and DeKalb counties in Washington. The Roswell Republican is slated to face Democratic challenger Bill Jones of Marietta in the general election.

Two Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) contests were on the July 15 ballots.

In the Republican primary for the open PSC District 4 contest, Lauren "Bubba" McDonald garnered 188,141 votes, or 52.3 percent of the statewide balloting to defeat Pam Davidson, who received 171,274 votes, or 47.7 percent.

In Cherokee County, McDonald had 6,064 votes, or 51.6 percen t. Davidson got 5,682 votes, or 48.4 percent.

Jim Powell won the Democratic contest for the District 4 seat. Powell received 336,062 votes, or 85.3 percent of the statewide balloting. Bob Indech received 57,878, or 14.7 percent.

Libertarian candidate Brandon Givens is also seeking the District 4 post.

District 1 PSC Commissioner Doug Everett won a new term on the board, which makes decisions on utility rates, transportation and other issues. Everett won 239,364 votes, or 64.8 percent over challenger Rick Collum's 129,824 votes, or 35.2 percent.

In Cherokee, Everett won 7,262 votes, or 60 percent. Collum received 4,838, or 40 percent.