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ZEBULON - Pike County voters chose their candidate in the Presidential Primary and gave a yes or no vote on the $5.8 million SPLOST for road, street and bridge improvements here in Pike County in March. Click here to review those election results. Then voters made their voice known on candidates running in the May 24th election. Click here to review those election results.
But there is still one more election before the November election. Mike Crane and Drew Ferguson are in the District 3 run off race for U.S. Representative Lynn Westmoreland's seat and Ben Coker and Rudjard Hayes are in the run off for District Attorney in our Judicial Circuit.
Results from the May 24 Election
Here are the results from the May 24th election as I placed them online the night of the election:
The top three contenders in the District 3 race for U.S. Representative Lynn Westmoreland's race are Mike Crane with 659 votes and 22.69% of the vote, Drew Ferguson with 590 votes and 20.31% of the vote, and Jim Pace with 700 votes and 24.10% of the vote. In the Democratic race, Tamarkus Cook received 80 votes and 41.45% and and Angela Pendley received 113 votes and 58.55% of the vote. Update as of 12:30 a.m. From the Secretary of State's website. Mike Crane received 26.87% of the vote with 15,343 votes and Drew Ferguson received 26.76% with 15,277 votes. They will be in the General Primary Runoff which will be held on July 26, 2016.
In the District Attorney race, Ben Coker received 2,149 votes (70.99%) of the vote, Rudjard Hayes received 382 votes (12.62%), and Cindy Manning received 496 votes (16.39%). This total will be added to totals from the other counties in the district. Update as of 12:30 a.m. From the Secretary of State's website with 3 of 4 counties reporting, Ben Coker received 46.78% and 11,389 votes, Rudjard Hayes received 27.97% and 6,809 votes, and Cindy Manning received 25.26% and 6,150. Ben Coker and Rudjard Hayes will be in the July 26 run off.
Voting Dates
The General Primary Runoff will be held on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at regular voter precincts. Military and absentee ballots will be going out in the next week or so. Early voting in person will begin on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 (July 4 is a holiday) at the Courthouse and continue each day through the Friday before the July 26 election from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. **There will be NO Saturday vote day for this election so make sure to early vote in person at the Courthouse or call the Registrar's Office at 770-567-2003 to find out how you can get an absentee ballot mailed to you.
In order to vote in this election, you had to be registered to vote by April 26, 2016 and you have to have voted Republican in the May 24, 2016 election or not voted at all because both the District Attorney and Distict 3 races are for Republican candidates so those who voted on the Democratic ballot on May 24 may not vote in the run off. The Runoff will determine which candidate becomes District Attorney since there is no Democrat running in this race as well as determining who will run against Democratic candidate Angela Pendley in the District 3 Congressional race on November 8, 2016.
The General Election will be held on November 8, 2016. Voters have to be registered by October 11, 2016 in order to vote in that election.
Here is information on the two races that will be determined in the July 26, 2016 election.
District Attorney
This is a four year seat that is currently held by Scott Ballard who has announced that his last year of service as District Attorney will be 2016 so that he can run against current Superior Court Judge Tommy Hankinson. Ben Coker and Rudjard M. Hayes are in the Runoff on July 26, 2016. This race will be decided in the July 26, 2016 election.
Click here to review candidate statements for those running for District Attorney.
Congressional 3rd District
The Third U.S. Congressional Seat currently held by Lynn Westmoreland will be up for re-election. It is for a two (2) year term of office. Rep. Westmoreland has announced his retirement. Drew Ferguson, Jim Pace, Mike Crane, Chip Flanagan, Richard Mix, Arnall "Rod" Thomas, and Samuel Anders ran on the Republican ticket in the May 24, 2016 election. On the Democratic ticket, Tamarkus Cook and Angela Pendley ran.
Angela Pendley won the Democratic slot to run in the November election and the winner of the Republican slot will be determined in the July 26, 2016 Runoff.
Click here to review candidate statements for those running for Congressional District 3.
This is information from the May 24, 2016 election.
This is the official list of those who qualified for local office here in Pike County for the May 24, 2016 Election. There are individual pages below with candidate statements on each of the contested races. Please encourage those who have not sent their 500 word or less candidate statement to editor@pikecountytimes.com to do that as soon as possible so I can get it online for them.
Non-Partisan Offices. Probate Court - Incumbent Lynn Brandenburg and Challenger Brent Taylor.
Board of Education School Board District 3 - Emily O'Steen. School Board District 4 - Beth Camp. School Board District 5 - Incumbent April Byrd and Challenger Denise Burrell. School District Board Members Emily O'Steen and Beth Camp will be sworn into office in January with no opposition in the election.
Sheriff - Incumbent Jimmy Thomas and Challenger Geoffrey Zimbelman. Superior Court - Incumbent Carolyn Williams and Challenger Rebekah Hanson. Tax Commissioner - Incumbent Donna Chapman. Chief Magistrate - Incumbent Marcia Callaway-Ingram and Challenger Phil Hammond. Coroner - Incumbent Terrell Moody. Tax Commissioner Donna Chapman and Coroner Terrell Moody will not face opposition in the upcoming election.
Chairman of the Board of Commissioners - Incumbent Briar Johnson and Challenger Gary Hammock. District 3 Board of Commissioners - Incumbent Tommy Powers. District 4 Board of Commissioners - Incumbent James Jenkins and Challenger Dale Jackson. District 3 Board of Commissioners Member Tommy Powers faces no opposition in this election.
PLEASE NOTE: Pike County Times has begun compiling information for voters in order for readers to make an educated decision before voting in the May and November elections. Candidates are encouraged to send a 500 WORD OR LESS press release that tells who they are, why they are running, contact or website information, and any other pertinent information to editor@pikecountytimes.com.
CONTESTED PIKE COUNTY ELECTION SEATS
Magistrate Court
This is a four year seat that is currently held by Incumbent Marcia Callaway-Ingram who will be running for re-election. Incumbent Marcia Callaway-Ingram and Challenger Phil Hammond have thrown their hats into the ring for the May 24, 2016 election.
Click here to review candidate statements for those running for Magistrate Court. This page is complete.
Probate Court
This is a four year seat that is currently held by Incumbent Lynn Brandenburg who will be running for re-election. Incumbent Lynn Brandenburg and Challenger Brent Taylor will face off in the May 24, 2016 election.
Click here to review candidate statements for those running for Probate Court. This page is complete.
Superior Court Clerk
This is a four year seat that is currently held by Incumbent Carolyn Williams. Incumbent Carolyn Williams and Challenger Rebekah Hanson have thrown their hats into the ring for this seat which will be decided in the May 24, 2016 election.
Click here to review candidate statements for those running for Superior Court Clerk. This page is complete.
Sheriff
This is a four year seat that is currently held by Incumbent Jimmy Thomas. Incumbent Jimmy Thomas and Challenger Geoffrey Zimbelman have thrown their hats into the ring. This race will be decided in the May 24, 2016 election.
Click here to review candidate statements for those running for Sheriff. This page is complete.
Chairman of the Pike County Board of Commissioners
This is a four year seat that is currently held by Incumbent Briar Johnson. Incumbent Briar Johnson and Challenger Gary Hammock will face off in the May 24, 2016 election. I will begin uploading info when it is sent to me.
Click here to review candidate statements for those running for Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. This page is complete.
District 4 Board of Commissioners
This is a four year seat that is currently held by Incumbent James Jenkins. He has been challenged by Dale Jackson. Incumbent James Jenkins and Challenger Dale Jackson will be on the ballot in the May 24, 2016 election.
Click here to review candidate statements for those running for Board of Commissioners District 4. This page is complete.
PIKE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
School Board District 5 is a four year seat currently held by Incumbent April Byrd. Incumbent April Byrd and Challenger Denise Burrell have thrown their hats in to the ring. This is a non-partisan race that will be decided on May 24, 2016.
Click here to review candidate statements for those running for Board of Education District 5. This page is complete.
School Board District 4 is a four year seat currently held by Incumbent Charlie Garrard who is not running for re-election. Beth Camp faces no opposition in this race and has submitted her candidate statement.
Click here to review the candidate statement submitted by Beth Camp who is running without opposition for Board of Education District 4. This page is complete.
CONTESTED DISTRICT, STATE, AND FEDERAL ELECTION SEATS
District Attorney
This is a four year seat that is currently held by Scott Ballard who has announced that his last year of service as District Attorney will be 2016 so that he can run against current Superior Court Judge Tommy Hankinson. Ben Coker, Cindy Manning, and Rudjard M. Hayes have thrown their hats into the ring for this race. This race will be decided in the May 24, 2016 election.
Click here to review candidate statements for those running for District Attorney. This page is complete.
Judge of Superior Court, Griffin, Hankinson
This is a four year seat currently held by Incumbent Tommy Hankinson. Incumbent Tommy Hankinson and Challenger Scott Ballard have qualified to run this race. It is non-partisan so it will be on both the Republican and Democratic ballots. I will begin uploading info when it is sent to me.
Click here to review candidate statements for those running for Judge of Superior Court, Griffin, Hankinson.
Judge of Superior Court, Griffin, Crawford
This is a four year seat currently held by Incumbent Mack Crawford. Incumbent Mack Crawford and Challenger Catherine Sanderson have qualified to run this race. It is non-partisan so it will be on both the Republican and Democratic ballots. I will begin uploading info when it is sent to me.
Click here to review candidate statements for those running for Judge of Superior Court, Griffin, Crawford. This page is complete.
Judge of Superior Court, Griffin, Sams
This is a four year seat currently held by Incumbent Fletcher Sams. Incumbent Fletcher Sams was the only candidate to qualify in this race so he will return to office in January without opposition.
State House 131
This is a two year seat that is currently held by Johnnie Caldwell, Jr. who was elected in 2012. Johnnie Caldwell, Jr. will return to office unopposed in this election.
State Senate District 16
This is a two year seat that is currently held by Marty Harbin who was elected in 2014. Marty Harbin will serve another two years in the Senate without opposition in the upcoming election.
Click here to review Senator Harbin's candidate statement.
Public Service Commission, District 2 - Eastern, District 2
This is a six year term of office that is part of staggered terms for a five member board. Tim Echols is the incumbent and has been in office since 2011.
Incumbent Tim Echols, Kellie Pollard Austin, and Michelle Miller have qualified on the Republican ticket. Click on each name to find out about them: Kellie Pollard Austin, Michelle Miller, and Incumbent Tim Echols.
Congressional 3rd District
The Third U.S. Congressional Seat currently held by Lynn Westmoreland will be up for re-election. It is for a two (2) year term of office. Rep. Westmoreland has announced his retirement. Drew Ferguson, Jim Pace, Mike Crane, Chip Flanagan, Richard Mix, Arnall "Rod" Thomas, and Samuel Anders have qualified on the Republican ticket. On the Democratic ticket, Tamarkus Cook qualified. The Republican candidate will be decided in the May 24, 2016 election and that person will go on to run against Tamarkus Cook in November.
Click here to review candidate statements for those running for Congressional District 3.
U.S. Senate
This U.S. Senate Seat is a six (6) year term of office that is currently held by Incumbent Johnny Isakson. On the Republican ticket, Senator Isakson has qualified and so has Challenger Derrick Grayson and Mary Kay Bacallao. You can find out info about Johnny Isakson on his website at www.johnnyisakson.com, about Derrick Grayson on his website at http://www.grayson2016.com, and about Mary Kay Bacallao at www.marykaybacallao.com. On the Democratic ticket, Cheryl Copeland, John Coyne III, and Jim Barksdale have qualified. You can find out about Cheryl Copeland at www.cheryl-copeland-for-us-senate-2016.launchrock.com, John Coyne III at www.johncoyneforussenate.com, and you can email Jim Barksdale at jimb4senate@gmail.com.
The winner of the Republican and Democratic races in May 24, 2016 will go on to face each other in November.
Important Dates to Remember:
The General Primary Election, Nonpartisan General Election, and Special Runoff Election will be held on May 24, 2016. The General Primary Runoff, Nonpartisan General Runoff Election, and Special Runoff Election Date will be held on July 26, 2016. The General Election will be held on November 8, 2016. The General Election Runoff Date for Local and State Offices will be December 6, 2016. The General Election Runoff Date for Federal Offices (if needed) will be held on January 10, 2017.
The Pike County Voter Registrar, Sandi Chamblin, is requesting that anyone who needs an absentee ballot--including those 75 years or older, disabled, in the military, or going to school or working out of state—-to please come by the office at the Courthouse or call at 770-567-2003. Absentee ballot applications do not roll over from year to year. These applications are good for the entire 2016 election year. Registrar Sandi Chamblin is looking for anyone with military family members that need absentee ballots for this year's elections. Call Sandi's office at 770-567-2003 for more information.