Whitlock Reacts to Run-off Win

Debbie Whitlock wins a second four-year term on the Stephens County Commission.

The incumbent defeated challenger Kenny Yearwood on Tuesday in the Republican run-off for the Post Two seat on the county commission.

According to the final unofficial results, Whitlock received 861 votes, or 65.48 percent, to Yearwood’s 454 votes, or 34.52 percent.

Whitlock said she is happy to have the opportunity to continue serving on the county commission.

“It has been a great four years and I am really excited and humbled and honored to be able to serve another four years,” said Whitlock. “I love this community. I love our county. I love the people in it. Stephens County is made up of a lot of different people with a lot of different views and different needs and different desires and a lot of times it is really hard to make decisions because you are serving so many different types of people. I just do the best I can for the good of the county as a whole.”

Whitlock went on to thank Yearwood for running a clean campaign.

“Kenny has been a friend of mine since school, a very good friend, and I just love him,” said Whitlock. “I appreciate him. I was really excited to know he was interested in what was going on in the community and we need more people like that who care and want to make a difference and I hope to see more of him in the future.”

For his part, Yearwood said he is grateful for the support he received throughout the campaign.

“I would just like to let everybody know I enjoyed this leap of faith and I appreciate everyone who came out and voted for me,” said Yearwood. “I would like to congratulate Debbie on her win. She will continue to do a good job.”

Turnout for Tuesday’s run-off election was around 11 percent.

Stephens County Registrar Bill Cochran said that everything at the polls ran smoothly on Tuesday.

“The poll workers did an excellent job again,” said Cochran. “They really step up and provide a key service to the voters of the community, of Stephens County, and I am really proud of them.”

While this was a Republican primary run-off, Whitlock faces no opposition on the November ballot.