Stonecrest voters choose first mayor

Runoffs coming in South Fulton; Fayette backs tax.

The man who kick-started the city of Stonecrest will be its first mayor, voters decided Tuesday, while South Fulton residents will not know until April who will lead their city.

Jason Lary, who led the cityhood effort in Stonecrest, won the three-way race with just more than half the vote. Residents also elected two people to the City Council, while three other seats will be decided in an April 18 runoff.

In the new city of South Fulton, former Fulton County Commissioner Bill Edwards had a commanding lead in the nine-person race for mayor, but did not cross the 50-percent threshold to avoid a runoff. He will face Benny Crane in April. All of South Fulton’s City Council races are headed to runoffs.

Meanwhile, Cobb County voters approved a sales tax for public education. The special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) will pay for building new schools and buying equipment.

In Fayette County, voters overwhelmingly approved their own SPLOST to pay for projects like transportation, stormwater infrastructure, public safety and facilities. It is their first to be approved in more than a decade.

Loganville residents passed a measure that will allow Sunday sales of beer, wine and distilled liquor by the package.

In Roswell, Lori Henry and Marie Willsey will go to a runoff for a City Council seat.

Stonecrest and South Fulton held their first municipal elections after voters approved the creation of the two southside cities in November. South Fulton, adjacent to Atlanta, has a population of about 100,000 people. Stonecrest, in southeast DeKalb County, has about 50,000 residents.

The two cities boasted a combined 90 candidates for the leadership posts.

In Stonecrest, Lary, a real estate investor and concert promoter, bested Charles Hill and Douglas Favors for mayor. Jimmy Clanton Jr. and Jazzmin Cobble won council seats. Runoffs will be held between Rob Turner and Plez Joyner; George Turner and Mary-Pat Hector; and Diane Adoma and Tammy Grimes.

In South Fulton, runoffs will be required for all seven council seats. Races will be between Catherine Rowell and Willie Davis; Damita Chatman and Carmalitha Gumbs; Helen Willis and Louis Bell; Naeema Gilyard and Mandisha Thomas; Rosie Jackson and Corey Reeves; Khalid Kamaul and Charlean Parks; and Mark Baker and Linda Pritchett.

Voters in Stonecrest select a mayor and City Council at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church polling location during Tuesday’s election. Jason Lary was elected the new city’s first mayor. Other races in Stonecrest and South Fulton, another new city,...