The Troup County Commission could see a runoff in District 2 after voting Tuesday.
Incumbent Buck Davis brought in 50.20% of Republican votes, while Mike Freeland received 35.41 percent and Ken Ragan received 14.39 percent of the total 3,259 votes, according to unofficial results. Democratic candidate William Herndon received 415 votes.
The results do not include approximately 20 provisional ballots, which will determine if there is a runoff between Davis and Freeland, Troup County elections superintendent Donald Boyd said.
“I don’t think Davis’ race will change,” Boyd said. “However, the margin is so close that if the votes went against him, it could possibly have an effect.”
Boyd said the provisional ballots were sent to the registrar’s office, where it will be determined which can be counted. Under Georgia law, provisional ballots cannot be counted until Friday, he said.
“I don’t understand how these ballots showed up at the very end of the election,” said Davis, who has served on the commission for 16 years. “The state had declared me a winner on their website.”
Davis said he saw zero provisional ballots beside his name on the Secretary of State’s election results page at 9 p.m and thought he had won.
“I don’t understand why or think it’s fair when that many votes are cast,” he said.
The provisional ballots could tip Davis to 51%, in which case he said he plans to continue service to the people.
Freeland said he plans to keep his signs and morale up until results are final.
“I’m ready for a runoff,” he said.”In that circumstance, I hope to see Buck come out and talk about some of the things I have been addressing.”
Freeland said he hopes a runoff would create dialogue about conflicts of interest he believes exist at the top of the county government.
“We should be questioning the one who sets the agenda for the county,” he said.
He said he was pleased with several of the primary election results including TSPOLST, which he believed to be an indicator of the sentiments many Troup County residents share.
“People are looking for a change,” he said. “Voters want the government to have better control, more accountability and realize that it is the people’s money.”
Boyd said he expects about 10 provisional ballots to be counted Friday.
“It’s not official until we get all the ballots in,” Boyd said. “We will know by Friday, one way or the other.”
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