Johnson Elected Dawson County Sheriff
News, Politics July 27, 2016DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Jeff Johnson eked out a narrow victory over Tony Wooten in Tuesday’s General Primary runoff to be elected Dawson County Sheriff. Johnson will replace long time top cop Billy Carlisle who is resigning at the end of this year.
Johnson received 1,890 votes or 52.07 percent of the total votes cast to Wooten’s 1,740 votes or 47.93 percent.
Johnson a Major in the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, campagned on his many years of experience and by emphasizing the need to retain experienced personnel. He was able to reverse the results of the four-candidate General Primary election in which Wooten took 36 percent of the vote to his 27 percent.
In the race for tax commissioner, Nicole Stewart defeated Andi Henson Juliette with 1,889 votes or 53.8 percent of the total votes cast to Juliette’s 1,624 votes or 46.2 percent.
“I’m so humbled and blessed for everyone’s support,” Stewart said after the election. “I would like to thank everyone who helped with my campaign. I couldn’t have done it without each of you. I’m beyond excited to be your Tax Commissioner and look forward to continue serving my community.”
Johnson is Elected Dawson County Sheriff
News, Politics July 26, 2016
In Tuesday’s General Primary runoff races, Major Jeff Johnson was elected sheriff, beating Captain Tony Wooten by 150 votes, 1,890 to 1,740 and Nicole Stewart won the tax commissioner’s race, beating Andi Henson Juliette, 1,889 to 1,624. Results are unofficial until certified by the Dawson County Elections Office on Friday.
Runoff Races Front and Center in Dawson, Lumpkin today
News, Politics July 26, 2016
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Georgians will head back to the polls today to decide key races, including several in Dawson and Lumpkin counties.
In Dawson County, voters will vote in a new sheriff and tax commissioner.
The sheriff candidates are veteran law enforcement officers Captain Tony Wooten and Major Jeff Johnson. Nicole Stewart and Andi Henson Juliette are competing for the tax commissioner job.
In Lumpkin County, voters will choose who they want to represent them on the county commission in District 2 and in the coroner’s office. Steve Shaw is the incumbent Dist. 2 commissioner and Bobby Mayfield is the challenger.
The candidates for coroner are Amanda Jones-Holbrooks and Jim Sheppard. Jones-Holbrooks was arrested earlier this month on a felony charge of first-degree forgery and is awaiting trial. Sheppard is a veteran law enforcement officer who will resign at the end of this year after 28 years of service.
Early Voting for Primary Runoff Races Ends Friday
News, Politics July 18, 2016
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.
Thurmond, Gaines and Nix Post Victories Sheriff, Tax Commissioner Races Head for Runoff
News, Politics May 25, 2016
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — Chairman-elect Billy Thurmond was taking a much deserved rest in Florida Wednesday after a landslide victory in last night’s General Primary election.
Thurmond received 3,041 votes to defeat his opponent Peter J. Hill by nearly a 3 to 1 margin.
“We worked real hard to pull this out and we’re very pleased with the results,” he said. Thurmond said his opponent called him to congratulate hi on running a clean race, something both candidates did.
When he returns on Saturday, Thurmond said he wants to get to work on a plan to improve employee retention. “We’ve lost a lot of people in the last five years. I know commissioners are looking at the pay scale not and that’s a good thing. I’m looking forward to working with them on a lot of things.”
Chris Gaines will be the other new face on the Board of Commissioners. Gaines, who will represent District 2, won a very close victory over Tim Davis with 2,015 votes to Davis’ 1,924.
District 4 Commissioner Julie Hughes Nix received 2,556 votes to beat Heather Hulsebus who had 1,495.
Elsewhere, there will be a runoff in the Sheriff and Tax Commissioner races.
Tony Wooten was the top vote getter Tuesday with 1,526 to Jeff Johnson’s 1,156.
The two will meet in the Jume 26 runoff.
Andi Henson Juliette led the way in the Tax Commissioner’s race with 1,212 votes. But Nicole Stewart was a close second with 1,025, enough to secure a place in the runoff.
Advanced Voting Begins Monday in Dawson County
News, Politics May 1, 2016
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — After months of political campaigns, voters will have a chance to vote for their favorite federal, state and local candidates when advanced voting begins Monday (May 2) in Dawson County in the May 24 General Primary.
Advance voting runs through May 20 (Mon. – Fri.). All advanced voting takes place at the Dawson County Board of Elections Office, 96 Academy Avenue, Dawsonville.
At stake at the federal level is the Ninth District Congressional seat where incumbent Republican Congressman Doug Collins has come under fire from conservatives for his support of President Obama’s Omnibus bill and former House Speaker John Boehner. The challengers are 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 faces a strong challenge from 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.
There is also a four-way race to replace retiring Sheriff Billy Carlisle and all four candidates have many years of experience in law enforcement. The candidates are Frank Sosebee, Jeff Johnson, Jeff Perry and Tony Wooten.
The Tax Commissioner race also 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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Bearden, Sosebee Wrap Up Qualifying in Dawson Co.
News, Politics March 8, 2016
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Qualifying closed Friday in Dawson County with two more candidates tossing their hats in the ring. Incumbent Ted Bearden qualified to run for County Coroner and Frank Sosebee became the fourth candidate to qualify to run for Sheriff.
Ted Bearden Coroner
Sheriff Candidate
Tony Wooten
Jeff Perry
Jeff Johnson
Frank Sosebee
School Board Dist. 1
Doris Cook
School Board District 2 Candidate
Elaine Wilson
School Board Dist. 4
Roger Slaton
Tax Commissioner Candidate
Johnny Glass
Karin McKee
Tony Stewart
Probate Judge Candidate
Jennifer Burt
County Commissioner Dist. 2 Candidate
Chris Gaines
Tim Davis
County Commissioner Dist. 4
Heather Hulsebus
Julie Hughes Nix
Magistrate Judge Candidate
Lisa Thurmond
County Commission Chairman Candidate
Billy Thurmond
Peter Hill
Tax Commissioner Candidate
Andi Henson Juliette
Coroner
Ted Bearden