Franklin Co. Election Totals

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

The votes are now in and Franklin County voters were decisive in who they wanted in office.

Voters were deciding on five local races in Franklin County, Sheriff, County Commission Chair, County Commission District 1, and Board of Education Posts 1 and 2.

In the race for Franklin County Sheriff, incumbent Sheriff Steve Thomas won easily over challenger Stephens County Sheriff’s deputy and Franklin County resident Tim Hill by a vote of 2,034 to 1,247.

Four people ran for the Franklin County Commission Chair seat, but after all the votes were in, incumbent Thomas Bridges easily beat out all three of his challengers.

Bridges received 1,774 votes to Commissioner David Strickland’s 772 votes, his closest challenger.

The two other candidates were Nicholas Clark, who received 407 votes, and Sharon Powell, who received 279 votes.

And in the County Commission District 1 race, incumbent Robert Franklin will serve another four-year term, garnering 1,849 votes.

Challenger Ken Barrett received 693 votes and former District 1 Commissioner Angela Whidby received 631 votes.

And it was a big upset in the race for two Franklin County Board of Education Posts.

Both long-time board members lost their seats to their challengers.

In the Post 1 race incumbent Joe Greene, who is also the School Board chair, lost to his challenger Royston business owner Eric Burrell by a vote of 1,689 votes to 1,500 votes.

And Dr. Pam Stone gave up her seat on the Board of Education Tuesday to retired educator Jo Beth James.

James received 1,931 votes to Stone’s 1,283 votes.