The Republican candidate for Lowndes County Circuit Clerk has been determined.
Teresa Barksdale, a longtime deputy clerk in the office, defeated local businessman Justin Shelton in a runoff election Tuesday with 72 percent of the vote.
Barksdale garnered 2,716 votes, taking 19 of 21 precincts. Shelton received 1,054.
“I’m just overwhelmed with the support, especially from New Hope because our people got out and voted,” Barksdale told The Dispatch after the results were finalized. “I’m just excited that people care enough to get out and vote, especially in a runoff election when there’s only one actual race that would determine the reason people come out and vote.”
Barksdale said she would allow herself a brief respite before campaigning in earnest for the general election, which will be Nov. 3.
Lowndes County voter participation was 9.85 percent Tuesday, with 3,847 votes cast out of 40,054 registered.
The general election will feature Barksdale, Libertarian Sheri Taylor Bedwell, Independent Tim Heard, Independent Jackie Leach, and Democrat Joseph Mickens in November.
Circuit clerk pay is fee based; maximum annual earnings are $90,000.
House 42 seat
Two Lowndes County precincts cast ballots in the House 42 Democratic runoff. Carl Mickens took home 93 percent of the vote with 162 ballots. Eugene Crosby received 12 votes. Mickens won the full district runoff with 54 percent of the vote across 17 precincts. He will face Independent Dorthy Baker Hines in November.
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