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Photo by Arnaud Jaegers
Election Day culminated in decisive victories for Hart County incumbents in every contested race.
Data from the Hart County Board of Elections displayed that a mere 25.94% of registered voters (4,690 out of 18,079) cast their ballots in the May 21 closed primary–a percentage that county Elections Coordinator Robin Webb stated was disappointing considering the monthslong elections process.
For the District Five seat on the Board of Commissioners (BOC), incumbent Joey Dorsey secured a win with 61.47% of the vote or 477 votes. Jeff Adams, business owner and former Hart County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputy, came in second with 34.79% or 270 votes, while Scott Mabry, volunteer firefighter and Nestle Purina employee, came in third with 2.84%, 22 votes.
“I would just like to thank everyone for the support, and I’m looking forward to four more years,” Dorsey stated to The Sun. “This election sent a clear message that voters are tired of growth. That’s the same message I heard from nine out of ten people on the campaign trail. We have a comprehensive plan to maintain and preserve the real character of Hart County."
“First of all, I want to thank the ones who came out and voted and those who supported me,” Adams said. “Secondly, congratulations to Commissioner Dorsey on his reelection. I feel like we both ran a good, clean campaign.”
The Hartwell Sun was unable to reach Mabry for comment before press time.
BOC District Three commissioner Marshall Sayer ran for re-election unopposed.
The incumbent also won by a large margin in the race for magistrate judge; Thomas Jordan received 61.64% or 2,891 votes and will serve four more years, while HCSO deputy Wayne Hinson earned 35.82% or 1,680 votes.
“I appreciate my family and friends that supported me through this entire campaign,” Thomas Jordan told The Sun. “The whole campaign was quite an experience and fortunately, we did come out with the most votes to be reelected and I’m very proud of that. I’m looking forward to continuing to serve the citizens of this county. I want to always be available to everyone. I love Hart County and the people that make it great. I’m looking forward to the days ahead.”
Hinson said on the morning of May 22, “I just want to say it was a great experience. The first thing I want to do is thank everybody. I had phenomenal support from family and friends and the biggest thing I really enjoyed about it was getting out and meeting citizens and talking to them one on one. I wish my opponent the best of luck and congratulations for achieving that office for another four years…and I look forward to whatever the future holds.”
Board of Education incumbent Kim Pierce also defeated Tammy Evans-Fazio, tax preparer at Evans-Fazio Tax & Business Services, for the District Three seat. Pierce received 64.97% of the vote (560 votes), while Evans-Fazio received 31.79% (274 votes).
“Thank you to the community for coming out to vote and showing their support of the candidates,” Pierce said. “I am excited to continue the work as the District 3 representative on the Hart County Board of Education.” Her opponent was unavailable for comment before press time.
Republican Dennis Dowell’s term on the Hart County BOE District Five seat was also to expire; he ran for re-election unopposed and will therefore be in this seat for another four years. Likewise, Democrat Lonnie Robinson was unopposed for the BOE District One position.
In the race for district attorney for the Northern Judicial Circuit (Hart, Elbert, Franklin, Madison, and Oglethorpe Counties), incumbent Parks White definitively won Hart County as he got 61% of the vote or 2,434 votes. His opponent, attorney and former Royston mayor David Jordan, garnered 38%, 1,517 votes. White went on to win all of the other counties in the Northern Judicial Circuit with percentages of the vote ranging from 57-60%, and will run unopposed in the general election Nov. 5.
“Thank you to my amazing staff, the best in the state, for helping bring us to victory!” White wrote in a Facebook post. “Thank you all for your votes and for your continued support! We are looking forward to serving you and our community for four more years!”
“I sincerely appreciate all the encouragement and support I have received throughout this campaign,” David Jordan said in a statement to The Sun. “I have met many people and appreciate the many conversations, and I look forward to talking with you in the future."
The remaining Republican unopposed incumbent candidates who will serve an additional term for Hart County include Karen Martin for county tax commissioner, Mike Adams for county coroner, and Merry Kirk for county probate judge. Others included Dean Teasley for county surveyor, Frankie Gray for Clerk of Superior Court, and Chris NeSmith for superior court judge. Lee Anderson will serve another term as State Senate Representative for District 24. Incumbent Alan Powell was unopposed in the race for his spot as Representative for District 33 in the State House and will serve another four years.
Two contested races will not be decided until the general election Nov. 5. For the BOC District One seat, incumbent Michael Bennett, Republican, will be against Democrat R.C. Oglesby. Oglesby previously served District One until 2020, when Governor Kemp suspended him from his County Commissioner duties and Bennett later defeated him. (Oglesby was indicted that year for racketeering and shoplifting, and charged with child sexual exploitation the following year. Oglesby’s attorney is currently engaged in another jury trial; therefore, the case has yet to go to trial.) In the race for sheriff, Republican Chris Carroll (captain at the HCSO) will be up against independent Tracy Mize (former HCSO deputy).
To see election results breakdowns in Hart County and the rest of Georgia, visit the Secretary of State’s Office website at sos.ga.gov.