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By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - There are 10,620 registered voters in Pike County. Out of those 10,620 voters, 8,787 voters (82.74%) spoke their minds at the voter's box with 5,522 voters (52%) casting their votes during early voting.
In the Presidential race, Donald Trump received 7,273 votes (83.03%), Hillary Clinton received 1,239 votes (14.14.%), and Gary Johnson received 163 votes (1.86%). There were 85 write in votes.
In the US Senate race, Johnny Isakson received 6,907 votes (82.97%), Jim Barkesdale received 1,101 (13.23%) of the vote, and Allen Buckley received 313 (3.76%).
In the Public Service Commission race, Tim Echols received 7,063 votes (87.11%) and Eric Hoskins received 1,038 votes (12.80%).
In the US House race, Drew Ferguson received 7,208 votes (85.84%) and Angela Pendley received 1,178 votes (14.03%).
In the District races that were won in the Primary and Run Offs, State Senator Marty Harbin received 7,663 votes (99.43%) of the vote, State House Representative Johnnie Caldwell received 7,558 votes (98.60%), and District Attorney Ben Coker received 7,817 votes (99.43%).
In local races, Clerk of Superior Court Carolyn Williams received 7,825 votes (99.29%), Sheriff Jimmy Thomas received 8,044 votes (99.38%) of the vote, Tax Commissioner Donna Chapman received 7,917 of the vote (99.70%) of the vote, Coroner Terrell Moody received 8,019 votes (99.85%), Marcia Callaway-Ingram received 7,729 votes (99.34%), County Commission Chairman Briar Johnson received 7,707 votes (99.65%), County Commission District 3 Tommy Powers received 1,923 votes (99.43%), County Commissioner District 4 James Jenkins received 2,156 votes (99.63%), and Soil and Water Representative Tom Lacey received 7,560 votes (99.68%).
On Constitutional Amendment #1 (failing schools takeover by the state) here in Pike County, 5,616 (65.43%) voted no and 2,967 (34.57%) voted yes. Statewide, there were 1,599,656 yes votes (39.99%) and 2,400,317 no votes (60.01%). The measure did not pass.
On Amendment #2 (penalties on adult entertainment to fund child victims' services) here in Pike County, 6,870 (81.22%) voted yes and 1,589 (18.78%) voted no. Statewide, there were 3,288,508 yes votes (83.28%) and 660,048 no votes (16.72%). This measure passed.
On Amendment #3 (putting the JQC under legislative authority) here in Pike County, 4,552 (56.50%) voted yes and 3,505 (43.50%) voted no. Statewide, there were 2,323,537 votes (62.48%) and 1,395,587 no votes (37.52%). This measure passed.
On Amendment #4 (fireworks revenue to trauma care, fire services, and public safety) here in Pike County, 6,485 (77.41%) voted yes and 1,893 (22.59%) voted no. Statewide, there were 3,180,662 yes votes (81.15%) and 738,606 no votes (18.85%). This measure passed.
To review more of the numbers statewide, click here to go the Georgia Secretary of State's website.
Contested Seats in the November Election
President
Republican: Donald Trump – President; Michael Pence – Vice President
Democrat: Hillary Clinton – President; Tim Kaine – Vice President
Libertarian: Gary Johnson – President; Bill Weld – Vice President
https://ballotpedia.org/Presidential_election_in_Georgia,_2016
United States Senate
Republican: Johnny Isakson – (Incumbent)
Democrat: Jim Barksdale
Libertarian: Allen Buckley
https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Senate_election_in_Georgia,_2016
Georgia Public Service Commission
Republican: Tim Echols (Incumbent)
Libertarian: Eric Hoskins
https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia_Public_Service_Commission_election,_2016
3rd Congressional District (for Lynn Westmoreland’s seat)
Republican: Drew Ferguson
Democrat: Angela Pendley
https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia%27s_3rd_Congressional_District_election,_2016
Proposed Constitutional Amendments
Each of these proposed constitutional amendments are listed exactly as you will see them on your ballot. [Note from the Editor: Keep in mind that there are politics involved with constitutional amendments and carefully review each of these amendments to make sure that each amendment is going to do what is presented on your ballot. One example of this criticism is on Amendment 1: Click here to read controversy over the wording on the ballot for Proposed Amendment 1. I'll be happy to upload editorials on my Letters to the Editor page.]
Proposed Amendment 1
Provides greater flexibility and state accountability to fix failing schools through increasing community involvement.
Senate Resolution No. 287 www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/2015_16/43917
Act No. 309
Ga. L. 2015, p. 1498
"Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow the state to intervene in chronically failing public schools in order to improve
student performance?"
Yes
No
https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia_Authorization_of_the_State_Government_to_Intervene_in_Failing_Local_Schools,_Amendment_1_(2016) has a ton of information about this proposed amendment.
Proposed Amendment 2
Authorizes penalties for sexual exploitation and assessments on adult entertainment to fund child victims' services.
Senate Resolution No. 7 http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/SR/7
Act No. 306
Ga. L. 2015, p. 1497
"Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow additional penalties for criminal cases in which a person is adjudged guilty of keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, pandering, pandering by compulsion, solicitation of sodomy, masturbation for hire, trafficking of persons for sexual servitude, or sexual exploitation of children and to allow assessments on adult entertainment establishments to fund the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund to pay for care and rehabilitative and social services for individuals in this state who have been or may be sexually exploited?"
Yes
No
https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia_Authorization_of_the_State_Government_to_Intervene_in_Failing_Local_Schools,_Amendment_1_(2016) has a ton of information about this proposed amendment.
Proposed Amendment 3
Reforms and re-establishes the Judicial Qualifications Commission and provides for its composition, governance, and powers. [Note from the Editor: This one is REALLY political. Do a web search on who has power currently and who will appoint members if this goes into effect. Review the wording that will be used to hide the proceedings of this commission if this amendment is passed. The AJC has a lot on this. Power and control are big issues on this one.]
House Resolution No. 1113 http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/HR/1113
Act No. 537
Ga. L. 2016, p. 896
"Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to abolish the existing Judicial Qualifications Commission; require the General Assembly to create and provide by general law for the composition, manner of appointment, and governance of a new Judicial Qualifications Commission, with such commission having the power to discipline, remove, and cause involuntary retirement of judges; require the Judicial Qualifications Commission to have procedures that provide for due process of law and review by the Supreme Court of its advisory opinions; and allow the Judicial Qualifications Commission to be open to the public in some manner?"
Yes
No
https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia_Replacement_of_the_Judicial_Qualifications_Commission,_Amendment_3_(2016) has a ton of information about this proposed amendment.
Proposed Amendment 4
Dedicates revenue from existing taxes on fireworks to trauma care, fire services, and public safety.
Senate Resolution No. 558 http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/SR/558
Act No. 530
Ga. L. 2016, p. 895
"Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide that the proceeds of excise taxes on the sale of fireworks or consumer fireworks be dedicated to the funding of trauma care, firefighter equipping and training, and local public safety purposes?"
Yes
No
https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia_Uses_of_Revenue_from_Taxes_on_Fireworks,_Amendment_4_(2016) has a ton of information about this proposed amendment.