Northeast Georgia voters return incumbents, elect new sheriffs in Tuesday primaries
A change in the faces of law enforcement has begun in northeast Georgia as voters went to the polls Tuesday in key sheriff’s races.
Incumbent sheriffs in seven counties in the Athens area had decided against seeking re-election, opening the doors to several newcomers.
The race in Clarke County late Tuesday showed incumbent sheriff John Q. Williams winning a new term in office with about 65% of the vote. He defeated challenger Tommy Dorsey. The vote showed 6,173 for Williams and 3,274 for Dorsey, an officer for the Clarke County School System, as of late Tuesday.
Other counties in northeast Georgia, had most candidates winning without a runoff.
In Jackson County, a four-way race in the Republican primary showed Jackson County sheriff's Training Director Kevin McCook winning the primary without a runoff. McCook received 64% of the vote. He won by a wide margin, receiving 6,595 votes, compared to 1,611 for former sheriff's investigator Dale Dillow, 1,106 for Athens-Clarke police Capt. Chris Nichols and 895 for Commerce Police Chief Ken Harmon.
McCook is expected to replace Sheriff Janis Mangum, who decided not to seek re-election. He does not face an opponent in November.
In Oglethorpe County, incumbent Sheriff David Gabriel won with 54% of the vote, facing a strong challenge by James 'Junior' Jackson.
In Franklin County, where incumbent Steve Thomas chose not to run again, Scott Andrews is in a runoff as he garnered 49.4 percent of the vote. The tally had Andrews winning earlier in the night with about 52% of the vote, but this figure later changed. He will face Brian Stovall.
More: Who won in Oconee County Primary Election races? Find the results here.
In Stephens County, where incumbent Randy Shirley decided not to run again, Rusty Fulbright won without a runoff with nearly 64% of the vote. He defeated Dennis Bell with 31% of the vote and Harold B. McCroskey with almost 5%.
In Elbert County, where Sheriff Melvin Andrews did not seek re-election, Darren Scarborough, a longtime deputy in the office, is apparently in a runoff in the Democratic primary with Dre'Kevious Gibbs, who received nearly 36% of the vote. Matt Gulley came in third with 16% of the vote, while Scarborough had 47% of the vote. The winner faces Republican candidate Jamie Callaway in November.
In Greene County, incumbent Sheriff Donnie Harrison won easily with 72% of the vote over challenger Robby McCannon. Harrison will face Independent candidate Joshua Wilson in the November General Election.
In Walton County, early returns showed Keith Brooks, an easy winner with 88% of the vote. Incumbent Sheriff Joe Chapman chose not to seek re-election and Brooks is his chief deputy. He out distanced challengers Joe Spear and Douglas Schad Jr.
In Morgan County, incumbent Sheriff Robert Markley chose not to seek re-election and six candidates sought to replace him in the Republican primary. A runoff will happen as Joseph Pritchett, the leading candidate, received almost 35% of the vote, while Tyler Hooks, came in second with 28%.
Following them were candidates Ryan Morgan, Bo Kelly, Kenny Seward, Kevin Berisko and Dietrich Roland. The winner in the runoff will face Democratic candiate Derrick Reid in November.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Clarke sheriff re-elected as voters cast votes in Northeast Georgia
