Incumbent Republicans carried their races for state
and national offices in Dawson County:
U.S. President*
John McCain (R): 8,242 votes, 82.5 percent
Barack Obama (D): 1,632 votes, 16.3 percent
Bob Barr (L): 93 votes, 0.93 percent
Write-in votes: 19
U.S. Senate*
Saxby Chambliss (R): 7,259 votes, 75 percent
Jim Martin (D): 1,896, 19.6 percent
Allen Buckley (L): 516, 5.3 percent
Write-in votes: 3
U.S. Representatives, District 9*
Nathan Deal (R): 7,922 votes, 82.68 percent
Jeff Scott (D): 1,655 votes, 17.2 percent
Write-in votes: 5
Public Service Commissioner*
Lauren McDonald Jr. (R): 6,928 votes, 73.8 percent
Jim Powell (D): 1,682 votes, 17.9 percent
Brandon Givens (L): 769, 8.2 percent
Write-in votes: 3
Public Service Commissioner*
H. Doug Everett (R): 7,439 votes, 81.8 percent
John H. Monds (L): 1,644 votes, 18 percent
Write-in votes: 7
Statewide voters passed Constitutional Amendment 1 and 2, but rejected Constitutional Amendment 3.
• Constitutional Amendment 1 encourages preservation of Georgia forests through conservation property tax reductions.
• Constitutional Amendment 2 would allow local school districts to use tax funds for community redevelopment purposes.
• Constitutional Amendment 3 would have created special infrastructure development districts for underserved areas.
State Constitutional Amendment 1 passed in Dawson County with 69 percent of the vote, but voters rejected Constitutional Amendments 2 and 3.
Dawson County also overwhelmingly passed the county homestead exemption and the school tax homestead exemption.
• County Tax Homestead Exemption
Yes: 8,480 No: 1025
• School Tax Homestead Exemption
Yes: 8,201 No: 1,249
Note: Totals do not reflect provisional, military and overseas ballots, which will be added upon election certification.
Running on a platform of change, Barack Obama broke through barriers to become the nation’s first African American president last Tuesday with an early win over Arizona Senator John McCain.
Nationwide Obama clenched the presidency, although Georgia, as in years passed, was deemed a “Red State,” with McCain taking 52.3 percent of the vote to Obama’s 47 percent and Libertarian Bob Barr with .7 percent.
McCain also led Dawson County, which saw a voter turnout of more than 76 percent, with an astounding 82.54 percent (8,242 votes) lead over Obama’s 16.3 percent (1,632 votes). Barr received 93 votes and 19 write-in votes for president were cast in Dawson County.
A Dec. 2 run-off is likely in the race for U.S. Senate between Republican Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin.
With 99 percent of the precincts counted statewide, vote tallies give Chambliss 49.8 percent. Democrat Jim Martin was pulling 46.8 percent. Libertarian Allen Buckley had 3.4 percent.
Like McCain, Chambliss, who visited Dawson County during a statewide bus tour late last month, overwhelmingly took Dawson County with 75 percent (7,259) of the vote over Martin’s 19.6 percent (1,896). Libertarian Allen Buckley received 516 votes in Dawson County.
District-wide, Republican Incumbent U.S. Representative Nathan Deal captured a victory over political newcomer Jeff Scott.
All of Dawson County’s local elections, including the sheriff, judgeships, county commission seats, coroner, clerk of court and school board, were decided during the July 15 Primaries.
Dawson County State Sen. Chip Pearson and Representatives Amos Amerson and David Ralston also did not face opposition in Tuesday’s election.
In other races of note, Lauren “Bubba” McDonald Jr. faces a runoff for the public service commission seat in District 4.
Libertarian candidate Brandon Givens took about 5 percent of the vote, just enough to keep McDonald and Democrat Jim Powell from a majority.
McDonald and Powell each received less than 48 percent of the vote. The two will face off again during the Dec. 2 runoff. Early voting for the runoff begins Nov. 24 and runs through Nov. 26.