Sen. Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) was declared the winner against challenger Brandon Beach.
Rogers took Cherokee with 14,856 votes, or 61.2 percent, while Beach received 9,409 votes, or 38.8 percent. Fulton County reported 50.9 percent of votes for Beach, or 2,762 votes, while Rogers took 49.1 percent or 2,666 votes.
In one of the most heated races throughout the state, feelings ran high in the last weeks leading up to the vote.
Also, a political newcomer is headed to the Georgia General Assembly.
Canton resident Mandi Ballinger, 37, will be county’s legislator for the newest House District 23 seat. Ballinger took 52.4 percent, or 4,090 votes, avoiding a run-off in a four-way race.
Coming in second was Alan Shinall, 70, with 26 percent, or 2,031 votes; third was Dean Sheridan, 49, with 11.4 percent, or 892 votes; and Odis “Harold” Welchel, 50, received 10 percent, or 784 votes.
Voters in House District 20 elected challenger Michael Caldwell to represent them, stopping short incumbent Charlice Byrd (R-Woodstock) and her chances of winning a sixth two-year term to the state legislature.
Caldwell, 22, received 53.3 percent, or 5,093 votes to Byrd’s 46.6 percent, or 4,452 votes.
In the House District 21 race, incumbent State Rep. Sean Jerguson (R-Holly Springs) retained his seat, warding off a challenge from Scot Turner.
Jerguson garnered 57.8 percent, or 5,544 votes to Turner’s 42.1 percent or 4,040 votes.
Caldwell said he was humbled by the results, adding his campaign will bring “new ideas to the table.”
“I’m very proud of what we’ve done,” he added.
He noted he felt his campaign worked nonstop in an effort to connect votes.
Byrd, 60, congratulated Caldwell on his win.
When asked what she thought hurt her in this campaign, Byrd simply replied, “teachers” and declined to elaborate.
Jerguson, 40, also said he was humbled by the results, but noted he was excited to move forward.
Jerguson added he “worked very hard” going door-to-door and keeping a positive message.
Turner, 36, who said he and Jerguson ran “the cleanest race in Cherokee County,” said he was proud of his team of garnering over 40 percent of the vote.
He noted he felt Jerguson’s advantage as an incumbent not only helped with name recognition, but also raising enough money to campaign.
“I think that speaks volumes,” he added.
As one who abhors the use of political power for anything other than the public good, that move spurred me into aggressive action. Byrd wrote here own obituary with that memo, she just didn't realize it.
The unfortunate point as gsujohn points out is that Rogers machine was just too big (not to mention that Beach supported TSPLOST)for the blowback to impact him. Cherokee needs to wake up and understand that Rogers is in it for nobody but himself. I can't wait until he makes the mistake of moving to a Statewide election.
Maybe they were trying to "teach" you a lesson...
Ms. Byrd's suggestion that "Teachers" brought about her downfall dismisses the fact that she misled her constituents on her voting record. Michael Caldwell will be a breath of fresh air given the lack of a moral compass by the present delegation.
Those who didn't, LOST.