Primary sets stage for new faces on commission
With more than half of the 12 precincts reporting in the race for the Shelby County Commission District 13 seat, Republican challenger Brandon Morrison is on the verge of unseating incumbent Commissioner Steve Basar, leading with 66 percent of the votes to 34 percent for Basar.
On the Democratic side in District 13, George C. Monger had 56 percent and Charlie Belenky had 44 percent with 10 of 12 precincts reporting.
In the District 1 race Republican Amber Millls, with 55 percent, was leading Melody H. McLeary, who had 45 percent. The winner will face Democrat J. Racquel Collins in the August general election.
The district is now represented by Commissioner Terry Roland, who is term-limited and is running in the Republican primary for county mayor.
With all precincts reporting in District 3, Republican primary Mick Wright won with 53 percent, beating Lindsey M. Massey, who had 46 percent. Monica Timmerman is the only Democrat running in that primary to replace Republican Commissioner David Reaves who did not run for a second term.
In District 5, with three of 11 precincts reporting, Democrat Michael Whaley, with 81 percent, was leading Lawrence A. Pivnick, who had 18 percent. Republican Richard Morton, with 60 percent, was leading Geoffrey Diaz, who had 40 percent. Commissioner Heidi Shafer leaves the seat after serving two terms.
Democrat Tami Sawyer was ahead with 52 percent of the votes in District 7 with 12 of 14 precincts reporting. Stephanie Gatewood followed with 34 percent and Eric Dunn had 14 percent. Republican Samuel D. Goff is unopposed. Commissioner Melvin Burgess has served two terms and is running for assessor of property.
With no Republican candidate in the District 8 primary, Mickell M. Lowery had a commanding lead, with 65 percent of the votes, followed by J.B. Smiley Jr. with 21 percent, Daryl L. Lewis with 8 percent and Edith Ann Moore with 6 percent. Commissioner Walter Bailey is term-limited.
With 12 of 14 precincts reporting, Democrat Edmund Ford Jr. is ahead in the District 9 contest with 52 percent of the votes, followed by Roz Nichols with 18 percent, Jonathan M. Lewis with 16 percent and Adrian Killebrew with 10 percent. Trailing are Pamela Williams Kelly, Ian Jeffries, Jonathan Lang Smith. Sharon Webb is the only Republican in the race. The seat is held by Commissioner Justin Ford, who has served two terms.
District 11 Commissioner Eddie Jones, with 67 percent of the vote, leads Democratic challenger Eric Winston with 32 percent with 8 of 12 precincts reporting. There is no Republican in the race.
In District 2, David C. Bradford is running alone in the Republican primary and Tom Carpenter is the only Democrat in the race. The seat is now held by Commissioner George Chism, who opted not to run for a second term and is running for county trustee.
Commissioner Mark Billingsley is unopposed in the District 4 Republican primary and will face Democrat Kevin Haley — who is also running unopposed — in the Aug. 2 general election.
Commissioners Willie Brooks in District 6, Reginald Milton in District 10 and Van Turner in District 12 faced no opposition.