Go vote today

Published 5:00 am Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Eight votes.

That’s all that separated Jessica Swinford, who finished first in the July 20 Republican primary for Whitfield County Board of Education District 2, and Rodney Lock, who finished second.

Swinford and Lock meet in a runoff for that seat today, and with turnout typically lower in a runoff than the election that preceded it, that race could once again be a tight one, decided by which candidate can better motivate his or her supporters to get back to the polls.

That’s just one of several elections that local voters will help decide today.

Republican voters will decide their nominees in four state races, as well as for one other school board seat in Whitfield County and a school board seat in Murray County.

At the top of the ticket, former congressman Nathan Deal faces former secretary of state Karen Handel to see who will be the Republican nominee for governor. The winner will face the Democratic nominee, former governor Roy Barnes, and Libertarian Party candidate John Monds in the November general election.

Sam Olens and Preston Smith are in a runoff for the Republican nomination for attorney general. The winner will face Democrat Ken Hodges and Libertarian Don Smart in November.

Also, U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ranger, and former state senator Lee Hawkins of Gainesville will meet for the fourth time in the runoff for the Republican nomination for Georgia’s 9th Congressional District. No Democrat qualified for that race.

At both the state and local level, the only runoff on the Democratic side is in the race for secretary of state, where Gail Buckner faces Georgianna Sinkfield. The winner will face Republican incumbent Brian Kemp and Libertarian David Chastain in November.

With several key races up for grabs and low expected turnout, this time, more than ever, your vote might make a difference, so let your voice be heard.