Local & State Headlines

Some Lee voters get an early jump on elections

• Lee County will post election results on the county’s Web site Tuesday.

Susan McCord

LEESBURG — More than 6 percent of Lee County’s 15,618 registered voters already have cast ballots by mail or during the five days of advance voting last week.

But the marathon is far from over for candidates in some eight local contests, three of which — sheriff, tax commissioner and clerk of superior court — are countywide races.

Lee Elections Superintendent Veronica Johnson said she hoped to see half of the county’s registered voters cast ballots Tuesday in the general primary.

“It’s really driven by how much the candidates get out and campaign,” Johnson said. “I would be thrilled if we could get 50 percent, but we’ll probably get 35-40 percent.”

Johnson expects voting to be “steady all day long” at Lee’s 10 precincts, with possible lines in the afternoon at Precinct 10, the Redbone Fire Station, and Precinct 6, Lee County’s Lutheran Church of Our Savior.

“Hopefully nobody has to wait too long,” she said. “We should feel privileged to have this opportunity, rather than griping about having to wait a few extra minutes to do it.”

While Lee has no local Democratic contests, 71 early voters did cast ballots in the Democratic primary, which included a five-way contest for a U.S. Senate nomination.

With three, three-way races under way, a runoff will be held if no candidate gets 50 percent of votes, plus one more.

The elections office also will hold a session for candidates at 4 p.m. Sunday to help them understand what will happen Tuesday evening when votes are tallied.

Lee has at least 11 candidates in races Tuesday that have never before sought elected office, including former chief deputy Reggie Rachals, who is running against incumbent Sheriff Harold Breeden.

Interim Clerk of Superior Court Sondra Cook, who was named to replace longtime clerk Anne Nix, is running against former Deputy Clerk Sara Reeves Clark.

A final countywide contest pits Tricia Holmes Quinn, Norma G. Smith and Susan Smith in a three-way race to serve as Tax Commissioner.

One of the women will replace Betty Johnson, who is running for the District 2 Leesburg county commission post against Norman Hoover.

Two political newcomers, Joe Adair and Rick Muggridge, are running against incumbent Morris Leverett for the District 4 Century commission post.

Contractor Sammy Smith and accountant Bill Williams are running for the commission District 5 Redbone post now held by Wally Roberts.

The City of Leesburg has an election Tuesday for mayor. Sidney Johnson and Jim Quinn are vying for the mayor’s seat held by Bob Boney until his death last year.

In Smithville, three candidates, Juliette Bush, Willie Davis and Walter Shelton are running for the city’s Ward 2 council seat.

Lee County will post election results on the county’s Web site Tuesday as they arrive from the precincts, Johnson said.

More Headlines>>