A woefully low turnout coupled with seven very qualified candidates will send city of Hartwell voters back to the polls Dec. 5 for a runoff election to decide two seats on the city council.
According to the Hart County Board of Elections, a mere 9.86 percent of the total number of registered Hart County voters made it to the polls for the 2023 municipal elections.
In the race to replace councilman Stephen Ayers, real estate and banking executive Debbie Henry led all candidates with 40.54 percent of the vote. Henry will face off against Reverend Richard Sheller who took home 23.85 percent.
Henry said the runoff is due to the high number of great candidates in the race.
“I’m excited and I’m looking forward to the next few weeks,” Henry said. “I’m open to talking with anyone, and I want voters to understand more about who I am and what I stand for.”
Sheller’s second place finish was just sixteen votes higher than former Athens police officer Toy Cynthia Wilkins who finished in third place with 21.40 percent. Christopher Martin finished in a distance fourth place with 12.99 percent.
Sheller thanked all those who came out to the polls to vote.
“I want to be a voice for the people and represent Hartwell’s interest in balancing controlled growth, traffic solutions and wise spending habits,” Sheller said. “I humbly ask for your vote in the runoff. Please contact me at (706) 371-7244 with any questions or concerns. I want to be your vote.”
A second runoff will pit UGA Housing and Urban Development professor Dr. Jermaine Durham against social worker and Hartwell volunteer fireman Zach Adams.
Durham resented 40.54 percent of the vote compared to Adams 33.97%.
Durham said his vote total was overwhelming.
“I can’t thank my supporters enough,” Durham said. “As I walked around town and knocked on doors, I could feel I had a lot of support. I’m overwhelmed to be the frontrunner, and I hope to take that momentum and garner that same energy into Dec. 5.”
Adams says he’s exited, he hopes for a better turnout to the runoff.
“I’m excited that we made it to the runoff, and I’m really hoping for a good turnout in December,” Adams said. “I want people to understand that this is a very important runoff race for the next four years to keep our small town charm.”
Rounding out the race was former Hartwell councilman David Little who came in third place with 25.48 percent.
Hartwell councilman Mike McNabb was also up for re-election but ran unopposed and will retain his seat for the next four years.
Turning to Bowersville, Joyce Rumsey garnered 65.30 percent of the vote in the post four town council race to defeat Donna Burney who gained 32 percent.
The post four race was the only contested election in Bowersville. John Smith ran unopposed for mayor as well as Alicia Barnett in post one.
Voters in Hartwell and Bowersville joined voters in unincorporated Hart County to overwhelmingly pass the special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST).
The penny sales tax was passed convincingly with 71 percent of the vote. SPLOST will go into effect for the next six years and will generate an estimate $36 million dollars in capital improvement projects for the county and its municipalities.
Hart County Board of Commissioners chairman Marshall Sayer was thankful to the citizens for passing the sales tax measure.
“Thank you to all the citizens of Hart County who have entrusted us to spend this money wisely,” Sayer said. “This money will not be wasted. We’ve done a lot of research and and the majority of our money will go into public safety to keep our county safe.”
Hartwell mayor Brandon Johnson echoed Sayer’s thoughts.
“I think it’s great because it allows all the trains on time and we are able to keep our investment in our capital projects,” Johnson said. “The beauty of SPLOST is that everyone shares in the collection of that which we are able to invest in those capital improvements which are desperately needed.”
While the runoff election takes place Dec. 5, the Hart County Board of Elections is still finalizing the dates for early voting.