The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
» Voters deciding a number of important local races,
Voters across metro Atlanta hit the polls Tuesday to help decide important local races. There were significant issues at various polling places, so many county officials extended voting hours. As a result there were few results available by press time. Please visit ajc.com for the latest results. All results are unofficial. CLAYTON COUNTY
In Clayton County, Tuesday’s races included a pair of commission seats.
With nearly 88% of precincts reporting, incumbent District 2 Commissioner Gail Hambrick had a commanding lead over challengers Robb Leatherwood and Robert Johnson.
Incumbent District 3 Commissioner Felicia Franklin Warner also had a big lead over her four challengers with 73% of precincts reporting in that district.
As of press time, both incumbents were well above the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff election.
COBB COUNTY
In Cobb County, Republican voters were deciding if incumbent Commission Chairman Mike Boyce would move on to November’s general election. In very early results, Boyce had a significant lead over primary challengers Larry Savage and Ricci Mason.
Seven Democrats, meanwhile, were contending to fill the District 4 commission seat vacated by Lisa Cupid, who is the lone Democrat running for commission chairman in the fall. District 4 candidates included Monica DeLancy; Shelia Edwards; Elliot Hennington; Jonathan Hunt; Edwin Mendez; Angelia Pressley; and Monique Sheffield.
A Republican primary for Commission District 2 was tightly contested.
Voters were also choosing between three Democrats running to take on incumbent Republican Sheriff Neil Warren in November. In early results, Craig Owens had a lead over Gregory Gilstrap and James Herndon.
DEKALB COUNTY
DeKalb voters cast ballots in two sheriff ’s elections Tuesday.
In a twice-delayed special election to fill the unfinished term of former Sheriff Jeffrey Mann, which runs through the end of the year, incumbent Melody Maddox was facing eight challengers. The contest will likely head to a runoff.
Voters also cast ballots in primaries to determine the candidates that will square off in November in the election to become DeKalb’s next full-term sheriff.
Maddox faced seven of the same challengers in the Democratic primary. The eventual winner will take on lone Republican Harold Dennis in the fall.
Democratic DeKalb voters were also choosing between three candidates to represent the commission’s Super District 6, which covers the western half of the county. Maryam Ahmad, Emily Halevy and Ted Terry were all vying to replace the retiring Kathie Gannon. There are no Republicans vying for the seat.
Several Democrats were also competing in a Democratic primary for Commission District 1, with the eventual winner taking on incumbent Republican Nancy Jester in November.
Breeanna Bellinger, MD Naser, Robert Patrick, Ben Truman and Cynthia Yaxon were all seeking the District 1 nod.
FAYETTE COUNTY
Fayette County ballots included several commission races.
Incumbent District 5 Commissioner Charles Oddo was facing two Republican challengers in Ann Wittenberg and William Yarde. The winner will face Democrat William
Lightle in November.
District 1 Commissioner Eric Maxwell was also facing a Republican challenger in Sonja Gibson. Democrat Vickie Butler awaits the winner.
District 2 Commissioner Randy Ognio was facing off against challenger Lee Hearn.
FULTON COUNTY
Key Fulton County races included the contest between embattled District Attorney Paul Howard and two former prosecutors in his office, Fani Willis and Christian Wise Smith.
Fulton voters were also weighing in on a few commission races.
Incumbent District 4 Commissioner Natalie Hall was facing Democratic challenger Kathryn Flowers for the right to square off against Republican Barbara Gresham in November.
In District 6, incumbent Joe Carn was squaring off against fellow Democrat Khadijah Abdur-Rahman.
GWINNETT COUNTY
Gwinnett County voters had a number of key races to weigh in on. By press time, less than one-third of precincts had reported.
The party primaries for Gwinnett commission chair featured three Republican contenders (George Awuku, Marcia Neaton, David Post) and five Democrats (Nicole Love Hendrickson, Demond Nembhard, Curt Thompson, Lee Thompson Jr.). Post and Hendrickson had opened up early leads in their respective races.
The primary winners — or the winners of their respective runoffs, if necessary — will face off in November.
In District 1, Laurie McClain had an early lead over fellow Republican Jacqueline Tseng. The winner will compete against lone Democrat Kirkland Carden in the fall.
The race for Commission District 3, which is being vacated by controversial commissioner Tommy Hunter, featured multiple competitors for each party’s nod.
Ben Archer had an early lead over fellow Republican candidates Matt DeReimer and Kim Walker. The winner of that primary will eventually face whoever emerges from a field of five Democrats that was tightly contested in early results.
And in a wide-open race for sheriff, Gwinnett’s Republican voters had given Lou Solis an early lead over Keith VanNus. Curtis Clemons and Keybo Taylor were the early leaders among four Democratic candidates.
HENRY COUNTY
In Henry County, the race to replace longtime Sheriff Keith McBrayer drew several candidates from both sides of the aisle.
Willie Brown, Jack Redlinger and Kenneth Lee were all trying to survive the Republican primary. Seven Democrats were trying to advance: Tony Brown, Marion Calhoun, Curtis Farmer, Gazzara Ricardo Hill, Brian McGee, Reginald Scandrett and Eric Wilson.
Commission Chairwoman June Wood was being challenged by Carlotta Harrell.
Incumbent District 2 Commissioner Dee Clemons, a Democrat, was facing two challengers from his party: Devlin Cleveland and Tina Marie Coria.
Republican Steve Richardson awaits the winner.