Six local Fannin County races in June 9th’s General Primary Election saw opposition: County Commission Chairman, Post One Commissioner, Surveyor, Coroner and two Board of Education seats.
Current Commission Chairman Stan Helton will face Jamie Hensley in a run-off, after Hensley received 2,707 votes and Helton received 1,554.
In the Post One race, Blue Ridge Police Chief Johnny Scearce received the majority of the votes with 3,818 ballots cast in his favor. Susan L. Hayes received 1,854 votes and Debi Holcomb received 818 votes.
Scearce will face Democrat Dixie L. Carter, who received 1,004 votes in the Democratic Primary, in the General Election in November.
Current Fannin County Surveyor Shelly J. Bishop will continue to serve in her role after receiving 4,505 votes to Sam Walker’s 1,818.
Becky Callihan will also continue to serve in her role as county coroner after receiving 4,885 votes to challenger William L. “Billy” Standrige’s 1,590 votes.
Fannin County Board of Education Vice-Chairman Terry Bramlett had 4,812 ballots cast in his favor against Greg Staffins, who received 1,500 votes.
Bramlett, Callihan and Bishop will run unopposed in the General Election.
Board of Education member Lewis DeWeese won his race with 3,743 votes against Lorraine Panter, who received 2,628 votes. DeWeese will now face Democrat Kathy Smyth in November. Smyth received 980 votes in the Democratic General Primary.
While current Board of Education chairman, Chad Galloway, ran unopposed in the primary, he will face Democrat Theresa (TC) Dillard, who also ran unopposed, in the General Election come November. Galloway received 5,696 votes and Dillard received 997 votes in their respective primaries.
The General Primary Runoff Election is scheduled for August 11 and the General Election is scheduled for November 3.