ELECTION
The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com
Wednesday, November 7, 2018 5A
Collins overcomes
McCall challenge
U.S. House, 9th District
Doug Collins: 76%
Josh McCall: 24%
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Doug
Collins, R-Gainesville,
defeated former Gainesville
educator Josh McCall on
Tuesday, Nov. 6, in the
general election for the U.S.
House, 9th District.
Who is he: A Hall County
native, Doug Collins has
served in Congress since
2013. He got his political start in the Georgia
House of Representatives in 2006 and has
served as an Air Force Reserve chaplain since
2002.
How he reacted: “The 9th District is a very
conservative district, and we’ve represented
that to the best of our ability. We look forward
to representing the 9th District in the next
Congress.”
On the issues: “We’re going to continue looking
at regulations, the economic environment
through taxes, but also health care will be
coming back up as we go forward. And I’m
looking forward — hopefully, if we keep the
majority — to being chairman of the (House)
Judiciary Committee.”
What’s next: Collins begins his new term Jan. 1.
Jeff Gill
Dubnik re-elected
to Georgia House
Georgia House, District 29
✓ Matt Dubnik: 68%
Nancy Stead: 31 %
Incumbent Matt Dubnik,
R-Gainesville, has been re
elected, defeating retired
physician Nancy Stead,
who ran as an independent,
to represent District 29
in the Georgia House of
Representatives.
Who is he: Dubnik, who
took office in 2017, runs a
Gainesville marketing firm with his wife Katie.
How he reacted: “It’s very humbling to see
your name on the ballot, and it’s even more
humbling to know that your neighbors and
your friends and your family and fellow
Gainesvillians, if you will, have continued to
show their support for me.”
On the issues: He has said he wants to keep
Georgia a top place to do business by
incentivizing people to learn a trade and
cutting down on regulations. To help with
health care access, health care systems,
private businesses, insurance companies and
state government can work together to find a
solution, he has said.
What’s next: Dubnik will start his next term in
January.
Jeff Gill
Dunahoo keeps
District 30 seat
Georgia House, District 30
✓ Emory Dunahoo: 74%
Alana Watkins: 26%
Incumbent state Rep. Emory
Dunahoo, R-Gillsville,
defeated newspaper
circulation director Alana
Watkins Tuesday, Nov. 6, in
the general election for the
State House, District 30 seat.
Who is he: Emory Dunahoo is
in his seventh year as state
legislator. He has business
experience in logistics, storage and real
estate.
How he reacted: “I’m humbled that truly
enough people still believe in me to support
what I do. I ran for the constituents of Hall
County; I didn’t run for a job.... I’m honored
to have that opportunity to have two more
years, and I don’t take it lightly.”
On the issues: “We’re going to have to make
sure we can continuously provide jobs. We
want to keep that at the same pace.” The
health of Georgia’s rural hospitals, which have
struggled financially, and improving education
also are concerns.
What’s next: Dunahoo begins his new term in
January.
Jeff Gill
Cooper obliterates
South Hall competition
Hall County Board of
Commissioners, District 1
/ Kathy Cooper: 80%
Michael Parker: 20%
Republican Kathy Cooper
will continue to represent
South Hall on the Hall County
Board of Commissioners,
after winning a contest
against Democrat Mike
Parker on Tuesday.
Who is she: Cooper was elected
to her first term on the board in
2014. She has run a cattle, egg
and Christmas tree farm in South Hall with her
husband John for more than 30 years.
How she reacted: She could not be reached for
comment Tuesday night.
On the issues: Cooper has said Hall County
needs to follow its comprehensive plan to
manage growth sustainably. She also wants
to establish sewer lines on Friendship Road.
What’s next: Her second term starts in January.
Megan Reed
About half of Hall votes
Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times
A line of people fills the hallway inside Prince of Peace Catholic Church on Tuesday, Nov. 6, as voters wait to cast their ballots at the
Friendship I precinct in South Hall County.
47.9 percent of registered voters cast 63,952 ballots
Voters wait in line to vote at the Friendship I precinct.
BY ASTA CEESAY AND JOSHUA SILAVENT
Voter turnout in Hall County was 47.9
percent, with 63,952 casting ballots.
Steady streams of voters shuffled
through precincts across Hall County cast
ing ballots in Tuesday’s general election,
with wait times sometimes reaching up to
an hour.
During the last midterm elections in
2014, 44,360 Hall County voters cast bal
lots, about 56 percent of all registered vot
ers at the time.
In the 2016 presidential election, 71,396
ballots were cast, about 78.5 percent of
registered voters.
At Prince of Peace Catholic Church in
Flowery Branch on Tuesday, the line at
8:30 a.m. wound its way through the hall
way as people waited about 45 minutes.
Poll watchers told The Times pre
cincts like Tadmore had continuous lines
throughout the day, and some precincts,
such as in Clermont, had lines of voters
past 7 p.m.
At Journey Church in North Hall at
10:45 a.m., voters were waiting around
30 minutes. At the Brenau Downtown
Center, there was no line at 9:30 a.m. One
voter reported having a wait time of less
than 5 minutes. Voters at Gainesville First
United Methodist Church reported wait
ing about 45 minutes to vote at 11 a.m.
There were some minor problems at
the polls, such as voters showing up to the
wrong precinct, Hall County elections offi
cials said.
And the recent changing of the clocks
for daylight saving time caused some vot
ing machines to be inoperable at the Ches-
tatee precinct before the problem was
eventually remedied.
Overall, Wurtz, who was overseeing her
first election for Hall County, said things
were “very efficient.”
Whether on the left or the right, many
Hall voters were in agreement that today’s
political climate is too divided.
“Politicians just play with the crowd’s
emotions to manipulate us, and we play
into it,” said Jose Torres, 46, who was vot
ing at Prince of Peace.
Some lamented it’s difficult to discuss
politics with civility.
“No one wants to listen to the other side
and it’s just sad. We can’t even talk any
more without insulting one another, and
it’s from both sides,” Aisha Ndiaya, 24,
said.
But the right to express those opinions
at the ballot box was taken seriously by
those at the polls.
“I’m voting because it’s my responsibil
ity. I made sure to bring my son to show
him how important it is,” A.J Turner, 37,
said.
Jarchow wins Flowery Branch
Post 3 Council seat
Flowery Branch
City Council, post 3
✓ Leslie Jarchow: 59%
Christine Worl: 40%
Political newcomer Leslie Jarchow defeated
retired educator Christine Worl Tuesday, Nov. 6,
in the special election for Flowery Branch City
Council Post 3 seat. She fills a seat held by Fred
Richards, who died June 14.
Who is she: A Sterling on the Lake resident for three
years, Leslie Jarchow has career experience in real
estate and mortgage lending. She has a daughter
enrolled at Spout Springs Elementary School.
How she reacted: “I’m humbled by the outpouring of support and
kindness from family and friends, neighbors and the community.
My sincere thanks to all those who helped make this happen. The
responsibility entrusted to me will not be squandered.”
On the issues: “My No. 1 priority is to establish open lines of
communication. I was really surprised to find that a lot of people
felt like they weren’t getting heard. I genuinely want to hear all the
different voices, and I’m going to do my due diligence and research
on any issue that arises.”
What’s next: Jarchow will be sworn in at the Nov. 15 meeting.
Jeff Gill
Voters OK brunch bill
Hall County
and many of its
cities will now
allow earlier
alcohol sales on
Sundays after
voters approved
the measure
known as the
“brunch bill”
Tuesday.
Voters in Hall County, Gainesville, Flowery Branch
and Oakwood voted in favor of earlier Sunday sales.
Lula and Clermont did not put the item up for a vote.
The bill, signed by Gov. Nathan Deal in May, gives
municipalities the option to allow restaurants to start selling
alcohol at 11 a.m. on Sundays. Previous state law stated
that alcohol sales could only start at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays.
The law does not apply to grocery stores.
Megan Reed
Brunch bill
Percentage voting to approve bill
allowing Sunday alcohol sales at
restaurants beginning at 11 a.m.
Hall County: 63%
Gainesville: 71 %
Flowery Branch: 71 %
Oakwood: 65%
Thompson wins third
term on Hall school board
Hall County Board of Education,
at-large post
Bill Thompson: 79%
Stephanie Lopez: 21 %
Republican Bill Thompson
won a third term as the at-large
representative on the Hall County
Board of Education on Election
Day, Nov. 6. Thompson defeated
Democratic challenger Stephanie
Lopez of Flowery Branch.
Who is he: Bill Thompson has
served eight years on the Hall
County Board of Education and
32-plus years working in Hall County Schools.
How he reacted: Thompson could not be reached
for comment Tuesday night.
On the issues: Thompson has called for more
secure entryways, more school resource officers
covering elementary schools and more frequent
Sheriff’s Office patrols to help reduce violence in
schools. He has said he is willing to work with state
legislators to find a workable solution for school tax
exemptions for Hall County residents.
What’s next: Thompson will serve another four-year
term beginning in January.
Pettitt wins Post 2 seat on Hall
County Board of Education
Hall County Board
of Education, Post 2
✓ Mark Pettitt: 78%
William Wallace: 22%
Republican Mark Pettitt, after losing a tight race
four years ago, won the Post 2 seat on the Hall
County Board of Education representing South
Hall on Election Day, Nov. 6.
Pettitt defeated Democratic challenger William
Wallace of Braselton.
Who is he: Pettitt has served as chairman of the
Hall County Library System Board of Trustees
and is a former member of the Hall County
Citizen’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales
Tax Review Committee.
How he reacted: “It’s the honor of a lifetime. I’m just very humbled
by the trust of the people of Hall County.” Pettitt congratulated
his opponent on a good campaign and said he welcomed more
Democrats running for office locally because giving voters a
choice is an important part of democracy.
On the issues: Pettitt said school safety and security is the No. 1
priority of the Hall County Board of Education and he supports
more investments in school resource officers and mental health
counseling for students. Pettitt said he also supports school tax
exemptions for seniors but that efforts should be made to apply
exemptions only to those who legally qualify.
What’s next: Pettitt will begin a four-year term in January.
Joshua Silavent
Joshua Silavent
