Solid red: no Obama coattails in Jackson

America may have elected Barack Obama president in a landslide Tuesday, but the Democrat’s coattails did not extend to Georgia, and certainly not to Jackson County.


The county remained overwhelmingly red, handing John McCain a 17,772-4,947 win. Jackson County backed incumbent GOP Senator Saxby Chambliss 15,765-5,414 over Democratic challenger Jim Martin and helped incumbent State Rep. Paul Broun beat challenger Bobby Saxon 16,166-5,964 as Broun carried 61 percent of the vote districtwide. State Senator Ralph Hudgens won Jackson with a 13,275-4,715 margin over Democrat Tim Riley as he carried the 47th District with 65 percent of the vote.

More than 65 percent of Jackson County voters went to the polls.

Former Commerce resident Lauren “Bubba” McDonald finds himself in a runoff for the Public Service Commission. McDonald won 48 percent statewide, with Democrat Jim Powell at 47 percent. Libertarian Brandon Givins’ five percent put McDonald (R-Cumming) into the runoff with Powell.

Commerce Special Election

Former city councilman Archie D. Chaney Jr. won the Commerce City Council special election to fill the unexpired term from Ward 1. He won with 66 votes in a race that drew only 34 percent voter turnout. Keith Burchett received 49 votes and Aretha Hill 34.

City voters approved the increased homestead exemption on school taxes for low-income elderly residents by a 326-94 margin.

Figures for the Commerce election are changed from the original announced results following a routine recount that resulted in the finding of a number of previously uncounted ballots. The additional ballots added one vote to Chaney's total and 38 to the homestead exemption referendum, but did not alter any election outcomes.