TRENTON, Ga. — Voters in Dade County will return to the polls Aug. 5 to select Republican nominees in two local GOP primary runoff elections.

One winner will represent the GOP in the Nov. 4 general election for the county executive/chairman post, and one will face an independent candidate in a bid to take the District 3 seat on the Dade County Commission.

Runoffs are not a usual occurrence but they are not that uncommon, according to Larry Cooper, vice chairman of the Dade County Board of Elections and Registration.

“Georgia law requires a 50 percent plus one vote to win any elected office,” Mr. Cooper said. “There will often be a runoff anytime you have three or four candidates for the same office.”

That is what happened July 15, when four candidates were on the ballot for both local posts on the runoff ballot.

During the primary, Allan Bradford and Ted Rumley Sr., received the most votes during a four-person race to be the GOP candidate for executive/chairman.

The nominee will face Democratic nominee Don Townsend, who won July 15.

After serving four years on the commission, in 2004 Mr. Bradford lost his bid for the top post, which he is again pursuing.

“I feel I can do a lot better job and will stress accountability,” said Mr. Bradford, who received 778 votes during the primary. “I can work with anyone, and think I can bring the commission together so the county can move forward.”

Saying he would take office “with no strings attached,” Mr. Bradford said he is committed to serving all the people of Dade County.

Desire to restore confidence in local government is the reason Mr. Rumley, who received 715 votes in the primary, is running for the office of county executive.

“I was born here. I’ve lived my whole life here, and I’ll be buried here. I want to make a difference,” he said.

Previously a county commissioner, chairman of the commission and county manager, Mr. Rumley said current budgetary problems are a prime reason for his return to politics

“We were in very good financial shape when I left office in 2004,” he said. “Today, it seems the county will have to operate with a line of credit until the end of the year.

The GOP runoff for the County Commission District 3 seat pits Robert Goff, who garnered 314 votes in the primary, against incumbent David Young, who received 222 votes.

“My first goal is bringing some unity to the commission,” Mr. Goff said. “We changed forms of government a few years ago to an elected chairman and four commissioners, and have never given it a chance.”

A lifelong resident of Dade County, now retired from UPS, Mr. Goff said this is his first foray into politics.

“The economy will be one of the biggest things we will face for the next few years,” he said. “As a retiree, I’ll have plenty of time to devote to the county’s needs.”

Incumbent District 3 Commissioner Young said he often served as peacemaker — “sometimes I felt like a referee” — during commission meetings.

“We are going to have a lot of management decisions,” he said. “And with SPLOST passage, that will include a lot of construction projects.”

The long-time Dade County resident said he would like to shift recreation facilities back to local communities rather than expand a centralized sports complex.

The GOP nominee for District 3 will face Carrie Carter, an independent candidate, at the polls in November.

Ballot building software for the runoff election is expected to arrive in time for advance voting now scheduled to begin Monday and last until Friday.

“All the machines must be tested before any voting can take place and that is dependent on software delivery,” Mr. Cooper said.

Advance votes can be cast between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Board of Elections Office on Case Avenue in Trenton.

Those wanting to vote my mail should call the Board of Elections office at 657-8170 for information and to make certain ballots are ready.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on election day.

Voting in the valley will take place at the North Dade, South Dade and Trenton precincts. Sand Mountain residents will vote at New Home and Davis, while Lookout Mountain voters will go to the polls at New Salem or West Brow.

Comments