Troup County Commissioner Ken Smith and school board member John Darden coasted to re-election victories Tuesday.

Smith, a Republican from District 3, got 4,729 votes, or 67 percent, compared to 2,288 for Democrat Morris Tatum.

“It’s somewhat humbling to have that many people support you,” Smith. said “I will continue to do a good job, the best job I can.”

He said he wasn’t worried about getting swept up in the tide of Barack Obama mania. Republican presidential candidate John McCain wound up carrying Troup County with 59 percent of the vote.

Tatum, a retired LaGrange police captain, was philosophical about the outcome.

“I just put it in the hands of the Lord and whatever happens happens,” Tatum said. “There’s always another chance. You can’t win by not trying.”

Tatum said he will support Smith, even though he might run against him again in four years.

Darden got an overwhelming 2,347 votes, or 76 percent, compared to 742 for schoolteacher Bob Roper to win the school board’s District 6 post.

“I just appreciate everybody in the district,” Darden said. “It really places a little more responsibility on me. I think it shows that the people appreciate what we do and that we’re heading in the right direction.

“I want to keep working to improve graduation rates and do all the things that make us a good school system.”

Roper said he didn’t expect to win, but “I said what I wanted to say.”

“People continue to vote for the same things and get the same results, and can’t understand why,” he said.

Joel Martin can be reached at jmartin@ lagrangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311, Ext. 235.