Stephens County Voters Deciding a Number of Local Races Today

Voters in Stephens County are heading to the polls today to determine winners in a number of races as part of today’s primary election.

Stephens County Registrar Theresa Kelley said polls open in Stephens County this morning at the Senior Center on Rose Lane.

“You just need to come to the Senior Center between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and bring a picture ID,” said Kelley.

She went on to say that it is important for voters to make sure they select the ballot style they want before voting.

“They need to make sure which ballot style they want before going into the booth,” said Kelley.

Sample ballots will be posted at the Senior Center for voters.  All of the county-level races are on the Republican ballot only as only Republican candidates are running.

On the Stephens County Commission, incumbent Michelle Grafton is facing Ralph Stowe for the Post One seat, incumbent Stanley London is running against Jonesy Haygood for the Post Four seat, and incumbent Dean Scarborough is facing Charles “Chuck” Wright” for the Post Five seat.

On the Stephens County Board of Education, incumbent Steve Tilley will face Jim Bellamy for the District One, Post Two seat; incumbent Jeff Webb is running against Brenda Kelley for the District Two, Post Two seat; and incumbent David Fricks is facing off against Laura Biggers for the District Three, Post One seat.

Barring a certified independent or write-in candidate, whoever wins these races today will win the seat without opposition in November.

At the state level, incumbent Dan Gasaway is being challenged by Stacy Hall in the Republican primary for the 28th District State House race representing Stephens County.

Whoever wins this will also be unopposed in November barring a certified independent or write-in candidate.

There is also a contested Republican primary between incumbent Doug Collins and challenger Bernard Fontaine in the 9th District U.S. House seat. The winner will face Democrat David Vogel in November.

Two area races do have candidates running completely unopposed as Republicans. Those are John Wilkinson for the 50th District State Senate seat and Rodney Moore, Jr. for the District Two, Post One seat on the Stephens County Board of Education.

There are also a number of contested state level primary races.  Kelley said a number of voters have already cast ballots through early voting.

“Early voting went well,” said Kelley. “We had about a 13 percent turnout. That puts us at about 1500 people voting.”

Any mail-in, paper absentee ballots not yet returned must be returned to the Registrar’s Office by 7 p.m. tonight.