Tuesday’s local elections in Gordon County saw one incumbent council member unseated while another retained their seat, alongside the passage of three local referendums.
City of Calhoun Council Race
Former Gordon County commissioner Bruce Potts defeated longtime council member Ray Denmon for the Post 4 seat, winning 964 votes to 739. Calhoun saw 1,763 ballots cast out of 10,974 registered voters, a turnout of just over 16%. This was the only contested city council race in Calhoun.
Fairmount Council Race
In Fairmount, incumbent Joanna Brannon held onto her Post 3 seat with 88 votes, beating challenger Thomas York, who received 36 votes. Of the town’s 576 registered voters, 129 participated, yielding a 22.4% turnout.
Other Local Races (Uncontested)
Calhoun City Council Post 3: Ed Moyer (Incumbent) – 1,453
Calhoun City School Board Post 1: Andy Baxter (Incumbent) – 1,314
Calhoun City School Board Post 2: Rhoda K. Washington (Incumbent) – 1,395
Calhoun City School Board Post 3: Stephen King (Incumbent) – 1,369
Fairmount City Council Post 1: Mike Young (Incumbent) – 106
Two local municipal elections were canceled in Plainville and Resaca due to no contested races.
Referendum Results
Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) Continuation: 3,072 in favor, 2,172 opposed
Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST): 3,456 in favor, 1,771 opposed
Added Homestead Exemptions:
Calhoun: 1,478 in favor, 251 opposed
Gordon County: 2,960 in favor, 530 opposed
The homestead exemptions will increase assessed-value exemptions for residents aged 65 and older, ranging from $50,000 to $125,000 depending on age.
Statewide Public Service Commission (PSC) Results
Democrats Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard unseated Republican incumbents Tim Echols and Fitz Johnson, although Republicans maintain a 3-2 majority on the PSC. Locally, Gordon County voters favored the Republican incumbents: Echols received 3,808 votes to 1,383, and Johnson 3,797 to 1,378.
