Tuesday’s runoff between Lee and Boyce became necessary after neither candidate received the required 50 percent plus 1 vote majority needed to win the May primary.
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Boyce campaigned on a message of transparency and accountability, tapping into voters’ anger over a deal Lee struck in secret to bring the Atlanta Braves to Cobb County. He called the Braves deal possibly “the most beneficial economic project for decades to come” for Cobb. The victor in today’s Republican primary runoff will in November face Angela Pendley of Fulton County.
Former West Point mayor Drew Ferguson was supported by five of his former opponents from the May primary as well as Westmoreland, who called Ferguson “a strong, conservative voice”.
Rep. Tom Dickson, a Cohutta Republican, lost to Chatsworth farmer Jason Ridley in a GOP campaign focused on education.
Lee has taken criticism since the Braves stadium deal was negotiated in private in 2013, before being put in front of voters during several town hall meetings that fall.
Voters like Jim Williams told Fox 5 News they were angered by Lee’s leadership in the handling of the new Braves Stadium, SunTrust Park, without enough public input. Darryl Jordan of Riverdale was narrowly beaten by school administrator Rhonda Burnough.
Unofficial returns showed Dee Dawkins-Haigler, a Lithonia minister, finished just eight votes short of fellow Democrat and pastor Tonya Anderson of Lithonia.
Ferguson won a GOP primary runoff election Tuesday against state Sen.
Ferguson touted his support for law enforcement after Crane forcefully criticized so-called “no knock” warrants that can allow police to launch raids without announcing themselves.
The victor in November will succeed Westmoreland, who is retiring.
The runoff victor will face Democrat Angela Pendley in November. In the Republican-leaning 3rd Congressional District, it’s likely that the GOP nominee will be the eventual victor of the contest.
Polls close at 7 p.m. for the two races. Mike Crane will represent the GOP in November against Democrat Angela Pendley.
Unofficial returns posted by the Cobb County Board of Elections late Tuesday showed Tim Lee, the incumbent chairman of the Cobb County Commission, trailing challenger Mike Boyce with almost all precincts reporting.
Challenger Mike Boyce has criticized Lee’s involvement in a deal bringing a new Atlanta Braves’ baseball stadium to Cobb.
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Three incumbents in the Georgia House needed to overcome runoff challengers to keep their seats.
