A Cherokee County business community leader now has another hat: Cobb County commissioner.

JoAnn Birrell won the Republican primary runoff on Tuesday for a seat on the Cobb County Board of Commissioners.

Mrs. Birrell, who serves on the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce board of directors, will take office in January, because no Democrats are vying for the seat.

She works in Cherokee as a community relations manager for Waste Management.

Mrs. Birrell won 8,132 votes, or 52 percent, to Earl Stine's 7,414 votes, or 48 percent.

"I just really want to thank my committee and my family and all my supporters," Birrell said. "The support I've received has been overwhelming in this whole process. I really appreciate all the support.

"And I'm really looking forward to working with everyone - from the businesses to the homeowners and all the people of District 3 and Cobb - and with the great commissioners that are up there now. I'm looking forward to working with the team and getting things done."

In the July 20 primary, Mrs. Birrell led with 5,484 votes, or 36 percent, not enough to meet the 50 percent plus one standard to win outright. Stine took second in the primary, with 5,180 votes, or 34 percent. Architect Stephen Moon placed third, with 4,761 votes, or 31 percent.

Mrs. Birrell said she is ready to get started.

"I actually plan to start work and meet with the county manager, the commission, the department heads - really get my feet wet and start to work on day one," she said.