4,075 Dawson County voters voted in person last week

News

DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – Dawson County is well on its way to setting a record for voting in a presidential election. During the first week of in-person voting, 4,075 Dawson Countians cast their ballot. If the next two weeks are anything like the first, voters should easily shatter the old record of 6,329 set in 2008.

“It was heavy every day last week, really heavy,” Board of Elections and Registrations Director Glenda Ferguson said Monday. “I definitely think this election will be a record breaker.”

There was a minor slow down early last week when the state computers bogged down due to the record-breaking turnout but Ferguson said once that was cleared up, things began to flow smoothly again.

As of noon today (Oct. 19) 299 Dawson County voters voted in person.

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

 

 

First-day advanced voting turnout more than doubles 2016 first-day record

News, Politics

DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – Dawson County Republican Party Chairwoman Seannie Zappendorf’s concern about voter complacency can be laid to rest. Voters in her home county went to the polls in very large numbers Monday.

On the first day of advanced voting, Dawson County voters cast 930 votes that is more than double the 444 votes cast on the first day of advanced voting in the 2016 Presidential Election.

Board of Elections and Registrations Director Glenda Ferguson said, “That’s a lot of people and everything went smoothly. Generally 20 minutes was the longest wait. I think the average was about 10 minutes and we had no complaints so I’d say it went very smoothly.”

Glenda Ferguson

It was a much different experience than in some of the metro Atlanta counties like DeKalb and Fulton where voters waited in long lines for up to 10 hours.

Ferguson noted that there were 76 cancellations which involved voters who sent in absentee ballots by mail but then decided to vote in person. Those voters were required to sign an affidavit showing their mail-in ballot was being cancelled before voting in person.

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

Public Works Director asks BOC to approve major road improvements

News

DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – Public Works Director David McKee asked commissioners to approve a contract for major road improvements with Blount Construction in the amount of $4,051,052.72 at their next voting session in May.

The request came during the Board of Commissioners Thursday work session and included Sweetwater Juno, Bailey Waters and Hugh Stowers  roads. The projects were included in the voter-approved special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST VI). Blount Construction presented the lowest of three bids. McKee said there is a need to complete full depth reclamation and paving on all three roads.

Due to the Executive Order issued by Governor Kemp on April 2, a pre-bid meeting was not held. Instead, an additional six business days were allotted for questions.

David McKee

If approved, the Sweetwater Juno Road project includes 4.5 miles from the intersection of SR 53 West to the intersection of SR 183.  The Bailey Waters project is approximately 3.59 miles from the intersection of SR 136 to the intersection of SR 52. The Hugh Stowers Road project is 1.37 miles from the Thompson Road intersection South to Grizzle Road. McKee said Hugh Stowers Road project will likely be the first to start.

All work will take approximately 165 days to complete, weather permitting, and comes with a five-year warranty.

McKee also notified the Board there is a need to complete turn-key culvert renovations on four structures on Bailey Waters Road and Sweetwater Juno Road and he requested approval of the low bid of Townley Construction in the amount of $453,000 to complete those projects. The projects are also part of the voter-approved SPLOST VI.

Brooke Anderson appeared before the Board on behalf of the Rotary Club of Dawson County to request permission to install a granite Peace Pole near the current courthouse. The pole would have the words, “May Peace Prevail on Earth” written in different languages on each side. This reaches people from many cultures in the community or visiting the community.

Board of Elections and Registration Director Glenda Ferguson asked the Board to approve a SECURE THE VOTE/CARES GRANT request to purchase personal protection equipment (PPE) including masks, gloves, disinfectant/cleaning supplies, barriers, markers, etc. and a steel drop box for the county Elections Office in preparation for the June 9 General Primary/Presidential Preference Election.  The grant comes with a 90 percent reimbursement from the Secretary of State’s Office. Because Advanced Voting begins May 11, the items have already been ordered. Should the Board not approve the request, Ferguson said the items can be funded out of the Elections Office Budget.

The Board also heard a request by Emergency Services Director for the county to accept $4,316.35 in funding raised from the State of Georgia Super Speeder Law that went into effect in 2010. Fines collected under the law support the Georgia Trauma Commission statewide. 20% of these funds go to various EMS programs across the state and one of these programs is the Trauma Grant.

During the regular meeting that followed, the Board unanimously approved a contract with West Georgia Lighting in the amount of $217,000 for multipurpose LED field lighting at Veterans Memorial Park and the Peace Pole project presented during the work session.

 

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

BOC will consider major road improvements during Thursday work session

News

David McKee

DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – Public Works Director David McKee will ask the Board of Commissioners to approve two major road construction projects when it meets in a work session Thursday (May 7) at 4 p.m. in the County Administration Building.

Both projects will be funded by the voter approved special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST).

McKee wil request commissioners to award a contract to Blount Construction in an amount not to exceed $4,051,052.75 to complete a full-depth reclamation and paving on three collector roads — Sweetwater Juno Road, Bailey Waters Road and Hugh Stowers Road from Thompson Road to Grizzle Road. The SPLOST VI resolution allotted $21,200,000 (67%) to Public Works for road projects.

Due to the Executive Order issued by Governor Kemp on April 2nd, a pre-bid meeting was not held. Instead, an additional 6 business days was allotted for the question timeframe. The county received three bids on this project. Blount Construction was the low bidder.

McKee will also present a request to the Board to approve a contract with Townley Construction in the amount of $453,000 to complete turn-key culvert renovations on four structures on Bailey Waters Road and Sweetwater Juno Road.

Chief Registrar and Board of Elections & Registration Chair Glenda Ferguson will ask for commissioners’ approval to apply for a Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act Grants to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for the upcoming election.

The grant became available in April and comes with a 90% state reimbursement. Due to urgency of the purchase, Ferguson said she has already located and purchased 100 face shields to be delivered between April 29 and May 6 for poll workers and staff ($278.19) without grant approve. She indicated that if the grant is not approved, the expense can come out of General Supply budget.

She also said she has reached out to Chastain Supply for sanitizer refills and bottles, gloves and masks and is now waiting on pricing for these items.

Drop boxes are not mandatory, but strongly suggested. Ferguson said her office has received several calls inquiring of a drop box, especially for ADA accessibility. Due to the critical time limit to receive any PPE equipment for the Advance Voting start date of May 18, this is a time sensitive item that will be installed by the Facilities Department for about $300.

Brooke Anderson and Sharon Hall will ask the Board to consider approval of the installation of a Rotary Club of Dawson County Peace Pole in front of the courthouse.

One of Rotary’s six areas of focus is Peace. Rotary clubs across the world have installed Peace Poles to promote peace in their communities. “May Peace Prevail on Earth” is written in different languages on each side of the pole. This reaches people from many cultures in the community or visiting the community.

Emergency Services Director Danny Thompson will inform the Board that EMS has received a Trauma Grant in the amount of $4,316.35.  There is no county match required, however, commissioners are required to approve acceptance of all funds.

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

 

Scott Allen withdraws from District 3 commissioners race, Tim Satterfield will take office in January

News

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Scott Allen, who qualified to run for the District 3 seat on the Dawson County Board of Commissioners, announced this week that he is no longer a candidate.

His withdrawal from the race means that Tim Satterfield, a 41-year fire service veteran, will become the District 3 commissioner in January.

Allen made the announcement on his Facebook page, stating, “I have learned the job of Dawson County Commissioner needs 100 percent of me. At this time, I am unable to dedicate that much of my time to this office. So I am officially withdrawing from the race.”

Former Sheriff Billy Carlisle announced his intentions to run for the post, but he too withdrew after learning that Satterfield entered the race.

The District 3 post is held by Jimmy Hamby, who has decided not to seek a third term in office.

Elections Superintendent Glenda Ferguson said today that Allen filed an affadavit of withdrawal early enough that his name will not appear on the election ballot.

Advanced voting is under way in Dawson County

News, Politics

Brad Raffensperger

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Just when you thought you had escaped the political season, early voting is underway once again with two statewide races at stake in the Dec. 4 General Election.

In the race for Secretary of State, Republican Brad Raffensperger is running against Democrat John Barrow. Raffensperger received 49.09 percent of the vote in the Nov. 6 General Election to Barrow’s 48.67 percent. Libertarian Smythe Duval won 2.23 percent of the vote, spoiling either candidate’s chances of winning without a runoff.

Republican Chuck Eaton faces Democrat Lindy Miller in the race for Public Service Commissioner. Eaton won the Nov. 6 General Election with 49.7 percent of the vote to Miller’s 47.6 percent. Once again, a Libertarian candidate, Ryan Graham, prevented a win by either candidate by receiving 2.67 percent.

Lindy Miller

The one-week advanced voting period started Monday, Nov. 26 and will end Friday Nov. 30. Voting hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. All advanced voting will take place at the Dawson County Board of Elections Office, 96 Academy Avenue.

All precincts will be open on Election Day, Dec. 4 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Dawson County Director of Elections and Registration Glenda Ferguson reports that 247 voters cast ballots on the first day of the runoff.

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

 

Coroner seeks increase to cover morgue expense

News

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Coroner Ted Bearden will request an additional $8,000 for his 2018 budget to cover morgue expenses and $3,876 to cover the fourth-quarter salary and benefits package for a deputy coroner when the Dawson County Board of Commissioners meets for a Thursday work session at 4 p.m.

Bearden says his office was budgeted $25,900 for morgue expenses in 2017 but that was reduced to $19,000 this year.

The coroner also said he was forced to hire a deputy coroner this year in order to maintain an immediate response to cases, but has paid the additional expense out of his own pocket. He is budgeted for the position in 2019 but is asking commissioners to cover the cost for the next three months.

Public Works Director David McKee will ask that commissioners grant a professional exemption to Wakefield Beasley and Associates in an amount not to exceed $53,915 to complete the design, plans and specifications necessary to complete the renovation project at the Veterans Memorial Park.

The company was the original firm involved in the design to move dirt from the ball field across from the Senior Center and begin a plan on a necessary storm water management design of a new Senior Center Building. This new project is directly related and correlates with the Senior Center project.

McKee said the exemption would relieve the county of the expense for a new firm to become familiar with the site, draw up preliminary plans, and create the complete plans/specifications for an IFB for construction services.

Commissioners will discuss the proposed 2019 Board of Commissioners meeting calendar which will include a couple of changes to accommodate Independence Day and Thanksgiving, which fall on Thursday. Those meetings will be held on Tuesday. The proposed calendar also accommodates the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Annual Conference in April. Additionally, no meetings are scheduled for the weeks of New Year’s and Christmas.

Commissioners will also consider the reappointment of Chief Voter Registrar Glenda Ferguson to Chairman of the Board of Elections & Registration.

Items discussed during work sessions can be voted on at the next regular meeting.

 

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

 

 

 

BOC continues to hear budget requests

News

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – On the second day of county budget hearings, it was time for the public defender’s office, elections and voter registration, extension service, finance department and public works to present their requests.

Director of Elections and Registration Glenda Ferguson requested a decrease of $9,875 since 2018 is a non-election year and fewer part-time personnel will be needed.

Extension Agent Clark MacAllister asked for a slight increase of about $5,000 to replace an antiquated analog phone system and a copier and fax machine.

Brad Morris in the Public Defender’s office requested an increase of $17,638 primarily to fund the hiring of two additional personnel.

Commissioner Sharon Fausett wanted to know if defendants are required to prove that they are indigent before they receive taxpayer funded legal representation.

Morris said there is a standardized state form defendants are required to complete to determine if they qualify as indigent.

“Is it that they don’t pay anything at all,” Fausett asked.

Morris explained the defendant must pay $50 for an interview and there is some payback through probation fees. “The judge can also order them to pay some attorney fees,” he said.

Finance Director Vickie Neikirk’s budget request was for an additional $33,000, most of which was to pay for the Board of Commissioners-approved county employee pay raise combined with an increase in group insurance.

Public Works Director David McKee asked for the largest total increase, but it would be spread over several diverse functions that fall under the Public Works Department umbrella – Administration, GIS, Roads, and the Transfer Station. An increase in his administrative budget comes from the movement of the stormwater management position from the planning and development department to public works. It is more of a shifting of funds than an actual increase for the county.

If approved, the transfer station would get an increase of $122,052 but that does not affect the general fund budget since it is covered by the revenue-bearing solid waste fund which currently has a balance of $1,796,130.

Roads department would get an increase of $74,907 while administration would receive an additional $63,397. The GIS/Engineering budget would be reduced by $9,875.

McKee requested the addition of two new positions in the roads department and that three part-time positions be combined into two full-time positions to create a four-man mowing crew. The crew’s responsibility would be mowing 40 hours a week during the growing season then switch to cutting back limbs and assisting in cleaning the county right of ways. McKee said a full-time mowing crew could help transform public works from being reactive to proactive.

“For example, this week, we were paving, finishing up some LMIG (local maintenance improvement grant) work and getting ready to move over to Biscayne subdivision,” he explained. “Yesterday, I received eight mowing calls and seven were substantiated. What do we do? We pull somebody off a crew and send them over to mow or I go do it or we take somebody who needs to be hauling solid waste and we go do that.”

Commission Chairman Billy Thurmond welcomed the addition of a full-time mowing crew. He pointed out the crew would be beneficial since it would allow other public works crews to get more road work done and reduce the need to bid road work out.

McKee also asked for one new position to work at the transfer station.

 

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

Dawson Co. casts 7,036 votes during early voting

News, Politics

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Pollsters say high turnouts in Georgia’s rural counties will benefit Secretary of State Brian Kemp in his campaign against Democrat Stacey Abrams to become the state’s next governor. Early voting ended Friday and if Dawson County is a barometer, the Republican is in great shape.

Dawson County Chief Voter Registrar Glenda Ferguson reported more than 4,000 new voters have registered since the last midterm election in 2014 and 7,036 voted during the three-day, in-person advanced voting period this year, compared to only 3,264 in 2014.

The two candidates are setting fundraising records, with Kemp reporting nearly $21 million compared to Abrams. However, as of Oct. 25, Abrams had $4.2 million remaining, compared to Abrams $3.9 million. That could be a significant in a race that most say, at this point, is too close to call.

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

Early-voting turnout triples 2014 midterm election

Election 2018, News

Glenda Ferguson

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Voters all across Georgia raced to polling places in what appears to be record numbers during the first week of in-person, early voting last week and Dawson County was no exception.

Statewide, nearly three times as many people (482,435) voted last week compared with the last midterm election according to a report by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

Dawson County Director of Elections and Registration Glenda Ferguson said 560 voters turned out Friday, closing out a week in which 2,328 voters cast early ballots compared to only 725 during the first week of the 2014 midterm election.

It is difficult to say whether Dawson County voters are more motivated by what appears to be a very close and increasingly bitter race between Republican Brian Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams for governor or national issues like control of the U.S. House and Senate, illegal immigration and the farcical hearing for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

In-person early voting in Georgia will continue for two more weeks until Nov. 2, including at least one Saturday Oct. 27. Election Day is Nov. 6 when polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

The website Georgia Votes reports that about 61 percent of early voters so far are white and 29 percent are black. Almost 30 percent of early voters didn’t cast a ballot in 2014.

Despite the large number of voters, Ferguson said voting went smoothly all five days with very few glitches.

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

 

 

 

Commissioners Review 2016 Audit Report Thursday

News

Dawson County Board of Commissioners

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Chris Hollifield, managing partner with Rushton and Company, will present the results of the 2016 Dawson County audit when the Dawson County Board of Commissioners meet in a work session at 4 p.m. Thursday.

The audit will show that the county’s General Fund revenue increased by 5.41 percent from 21,054,087 in 2015 to $22,183,220. At the same time expenditures rose by 6.73 percent from $20,186,557 to $21,734,253. Sales tax accounted for 40.86 percent of last year’s revenue while property taxes generated 32.3 percent.

The county has maintained a very healthy fund balance of $5,102,625 or 24.6 percent of expenditures. The Association of County Commissioners Georgia recommends not less than 15 percent.

The county’s aging voting machines are 16 years old and can’t be fixed, so commissioners will consider a request from Elections Supervisor Glenda Ferguson to purchase 65 voting machines from San Diego County at a cost of $39,194.90. The machines were used only once before the county decided to go to paper ballots.

The Board of Commissioners budgeted $35,000 this year for installation of a LED message board at the entrance to Veterans Memorial Park and Senior Services. The project came in under budget and Parks and Recreation is requesting approval of a contract with the low bidder Metro LED in the amount of $29,966.

The Magistrate Court is asking commissioners to add $1,000 to its current budget to pay for federally mandated interpreters. The amount budgeted for this year was expended in June.

Etowah Water and Sewer Authority (EWSA) will seek county approval to renew financing with Bank of the Ozarks for a joint project with the county in 1998 to provide a sanitary sewer facility to serve Georgia 400 retail/outlet. The loan has been paid down to about $1.4 million and the current note is now due. Though the note is in the name of EWSA, the County has indirect liability on the note

There also will be a discussion of the formation of a citizen committee to study commissioners’ compensation. It has been 12 years since the salaries were reviewed.

 

 

 

Early Voter Turnout Smashes Previous Record

News

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Voters have turned out in record numbers in Dawson County to cast their votes in the 2016 Presidential Election.

Director of Elections and Registration Glenda Ferguson said Friday that more than 7,554 of the county’s 14,591 active registered voters had voted by close of business Thursday and the poll will remain open until 5 p.m. today.

“Voting has gone very smoothly,” she said. “We’ve had an excellent turnout and there has been very little waiting so far.”

The previous record for advanced, in-person voting was 6,612, set during the 2012 Presidential Election. “We had 486 who cast ballots Thursday and we expect at least that many today,” she said.

Ferguson reminds voters that the poll will remain open until 7 p.m. today and that they must have identification with them.

Voters are not allowed to wear shirts, caps or other apparel that advertises a candidate’s name.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8 when all Dawson County precincts will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Absentee ballots must be at the Board of Elections by time polls close on Tuesday.  Since it is so close to Election Day, if you haven’t mailed your ballot yet, the best way to make sure your vote is counted is to deliver it by hand to the Board of Elections.  Even if your ballot is postmarked by Nov. 8th, it will not be read if it arrives at the Board of Elections after Nov. 8th.

 

 

Advanced Voting for Presidential Election Begins Monday

Business, News

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Judging by the flurry of new voter registration Dawson County Director of Elections and Registration Glenda Ferguson said the 2016 Presidential Election could produce a record number of voters.

“It’s been crazy with new registrations and people verifying eligibility,” Ferguson said Wednesday. “I don’t recall this much activity in previous elections. I’m guessing we will have a turnout of around 78 percent this year.”

Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, have engaged in one of the most bitter and divisive political campaigns in recent U.S. history. Advanced Voting begins Monday and voters will finally have a chance to choose their candidate.

Dawson County voters can cast an early ballot between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m Monday through Friday until Nov. 4. The county will also hold one Saturday voting session on Sat. Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The only location open for Advanced Voting is the Dawson County Board of Elections Office at 96 Academy Avenue, Dawsonville.

On Election Day, Tues. Nov. 8, all precincts will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

If you have any questions about your voting location and/or status, go to “My Voter Page” @ http://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do or call the Elections & Voter Registration office at 706-344-3640.

You can also obtain an Absentee Ballot by completing the Absentee Ballot Application and returning it by mail to 96 Academy Avenue, Dawsonville, GA 30534 or by  Fax 706-344-3642, or by email [email protected]  with a signature provided.

Wiley Qualifies to Run for County Commision as Independent

News

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Dawson County Elections Supervisor Glenda Ferguson confirmed Tuesday that Robert Wiley, a retired U.S. Army major and combat veteran, has qualified to run for the District 2 Board of Commissioners seat as an independent in November.

Wiley needed to obtain the signatures of 5 percent of Dawson County’s registered voters (about 661) on a nomination petition. Ferguson said her office certified the signatures of 665.

Wiley’s opponent is Republican Chris Gaines who defeated Tim Davis in the May General Primary election.

Wiley, a junior ROTC instructor at Dawson County High School, said he is a Republican but missed the deadline to qualify for the General Primary after just completing his Masters Degree in Public Administration.

Early Voting for Primary Runoff Races Ends Friday

News, Politics

DAWON COUNTY, Ga. — Early voting ends Friday for the July 26 general election primary runoffs.

The races in Forsyth County are between Tony Wooten and Jeff Johnson to decide who will replace retiring Sheriff Billy Carlisle and tax commissioner where two newcomers, Andi Henson Juliette and Nicole Stewart, are seeking to fill the vacancy left by Linda Townley who is also retiring this year.

Early voting started July 5 and the Dawson County Elections Office reports that the turnout has beem much heavier than expected. As of Friday afternoon, 1,569 people had cast their ballots

“That’s much greater than we anticipated, especially for a runoff election,” said Dawson County Director of Elections and Registration.
Georgia law requires a runoff if no candidate wins a majority in a general primary.

Dawson Elections Chief Pleased with Early Turnout

News, Politics

DAWSONVILLE — With the May 24th General Primary election day fast approaching, Director of Elections and Registration Glenda Ferguson and her staff have been kept busy during the advanced voting period.

“So far, as of 9 a.m. Friday, 990 ballots have been cast for an average of about 100 per day,” Ferguson said. “I always want to see more, but I’ve been very pleased with the turnout so far. ”

Ferguson said in 2012, about 40 percent of the county’s 15,800 voters waited until election day to cast a ballot. If that percentage holds true this year, total turnout could approach 8,000.

Among the key races to be decided are Dawson County Sheriff where Tony Wooten, Jeff Johnson, Jeff Perry and Frank Sosebee are the candidates.

Voters must also decide who will fill the Ninth District Congressional seat currently held by Doug Collins. Collins is facing a serious challenge from former 10th District Congressman Paul Broun, Lanier Tea Party Patriots founder Mike Scupin, White County educator Roger Fitzpatrick and retired Army and National Guard Brigadier General Bernie Fontaine.

At the state level, District 51 State Senator Steve Gooch of Dahlonega is being challenged by John Williamson, co-founder of the Gilmer County Tea Party.

Locally, voters must fill two vacant seats on the Board of Commissioners after Chairman Mike Berg and District 2 Commissioner James Swafford decided not to run again.

Bill Thurmond and Peter J. Hill will compete for the Chairman’s seat and Chris Gaines and Tim Davis are the candidates in District 2. In District 4, incumbent Julie Nix has drawn a challenge from Heather Hulsebus, former Chairwoman of the Dawson County Republican Party.

The Tax Commissioner race features four candidates, Andi Henson Juliette, Karin McKee, Johnny Glass and Nicole Stewart.

No Democrats have qualified in any of the races, so the winner of the General Primary will take office in January.

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