Unexpired commission seat and county-wide package sales will appear on Nov. 8 ballot
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, citizens of Jefferson County’s District 4 will choose amongst four candidates to replace Jefferson County Commissioner Tommy New as well as vote on other highly contested state-level races.
New, a long-time supporter of Jefferson County, an active member of Louisville United Methodist Church, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, a former board member of Queensborough National Bank, served as the commissioner for District 4 for 42 years. He was 78-years-old when he died, Feb. 16, 2022.
Candidates running to fill his unexpired term are Corey Forrest, Jerry Taylor, William R. Toulson, Jr and Joseph A. Wheeler.
As all candidates for other local positions in both Jefferson and Glascock counties are running opposed, this is the only local race with opposition, however many state-wide races, such as for the positions of a Georgia United States Senate seat and Governor’s position have been fiercely campaigned.
Jefferson County voters are also being given an opportunity to vote for or against the sale of distilled spirits by the package. While the cities of Louisville, Wadley and Wrens have all previously passed liquor package sales referendums, there have been no legal sales in the county’s unincorporated areas.
The county has previously approved beer and wine sales by the drink and for off-premises consumption.
Wrens just approved its distilled liquor package sales in November of 2021.
Prior to last year state law required that a third of residents sign a petition requesting the decision to allow distilled alcohol sales be put before voters. Senate Bill 145, signed by Kemp on May 4, 2021 eliminated the trigger mechanism of the citizen petition.
The referendum to authorize the sale of distilled spirits by the package for off-site consumption would allow the county to issue licenses for such sales to be effective upon the approval of an amendment to the county's code regulating alcohol sales.
The referendum will require more than one-half of the votes to be cast in favor of issuing such licenses.
County Administrator Jerry Coalson said that if the referendum passes, the county will then work on amending its alcohol sales ordinance and develop policies for licensure.
“Commissioners have talked about adding this to the ballot for a long time,” Coalson said. “They have it in several of the cities already, so I think they just wanted to make it county-wide and be done with it.”
Advanced (early) voting began on Monday, Oct. 17 and will run through Friday, Nov. 4, at the Jefferson County elections office, located at 415 Green St. in Louisville, Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Applications for absentee ballots can be accepted at the Louisville office through Friday, Oct. 28, at 5 p.m. Filled out absentee ballots will be accepted through 7 p.m. on election day, Nov. 8.
Polls will be open at the usual locations where the primaries were held earlier this year on Nov. 8, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sample ballots are available on the Jefferson County election’s office website and on the Secretary of State’s website.
(In an effort to assist area residents in preparing for their trips to the polls, The News and Farmer is including the following list of candidates and referendums that will appear on local ballots.)
Appearing only on Jefferson County District 1 Ballots
Jefferson County Commissioner District 1
Gonice C. Davis - (Incumbent) Democrat
Appearing only on Jefferson County District 3 Ballots
Jefferson County Commissioner District 3
Charles “Wayne” Davis - (Incumbent) Democrat
Appearing only on Jefferson County District 4 Ballots
For Jefferson County Commissioner District 4
(To fill the unexpired term of Henry Grady “Tommy” New, Deceased)
(vote for one)
Corey Forrest – Democrat
Jerry Taylor – Democrat
William R. Toulson, Jr. - Democrat
Joseph A. Wheeler – Democrat
Appearing on all Jefferson County Ballots
For State House of Representatives – District 132 (vote for one)
Brian L. Prince - (Incumbent) Democrat
For Briar Creek Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor (vote for one)
Larry Mark Hodges - (Incumbent)
Jefferson County Sale of Distilled Spirits by the Package (vote for one)
“Shall the issuances of licenses for the package sale of distilled spirits be approved?”
Yes
No
Appearing on all Glascock County Ballots
For State House of Representatives – District 128 (vote for one)
Mack Jackson - (Incumbent) Democrat
For County Commissioner District 2 (vote for one)
Autumn Usry Milburn – Republican
County Commissioner District 4 (vote for one)
Joe “Jay” L. Dixon – Republican
Appearing on all Jefferson and Glascock County Ballots
For United States Senate (vote for one)
Herschel Junior Walker - Republican
Raphael Warnock - (Incumbent) Democrat
Chase Oliver - Libertarian
For Governor (vote for one)
Brian Kemp - (Incumbent) Republican
Stacey Abrams - Democrat
Shane Hazel - Libertarian
For Lieutenant Governor (vote for one)
Burt Jones – Republican
Charlie Bailey – Democrat
Ryan Graham – Libertarian
For Secretary of State (vote for one)
Brad Raffensperger - (Incumbent) Republican
Bee Nguyen – Democrat
Ted Metz – Libertarian
For Attorney General (vote for one)
Chris Carr - (Incumbent) Republican
Jennifer “Jen” Jordan – Democrat
Martin Cowen – Libertarian
For Commissioner of Agriculture (vote for one)
Tyler Harper – Republican
Nakita Hemingway – Democrat
David Raudabaugh – Libertarian
For Commissioner of Insurance (vote for one)
John King - (Incumbent) Republican
Janice Laws Robinson – Democrat
For State School Superintendent (vote for one)
Richard Woods - (Incumbent) Republican
Alisha Thomas Searcy – Democrat
For Commissioner of Labor (vote for one)
Bruce Thompson – Republican
William “Will” Boddie Jr. - Democrat
Emily Anderson – Libertarian
For United States House of Representatives – District 12 (vote for one)
Rick Allen - (Incumbent) Republican
Elizabeth “Liz” Johnson – Democrat
For State Senate District 23 (vote for one)
Max Burns - (Incumbent) Republican
Proposed Constitutional Amendments
-1-
Provides for suspension of compensation of certain state officers and members of the General Assembly.
Senate Resolution No. 134 Resolution Act No. 304 “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to suspend the compensation of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State School Superintendent, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Labor, or any member of the General Assembly while such individual is suspended from office following indictment for a felony?”
Yes
No
-2-
Provides for temporary local tax relief after disasters
House Resolution 594 Resolution Act No. 803
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide that the governing authority and each county, municipality, and consolidated government and the board of education of each independent and county school system in this state shall be authorized to grant temporary tax relief to properties within its jurisdiction which are severely damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster and located within a nationally declared disaster area?”
Yes
No
Statewide Referendum Questions
-A-
Provides for ad valorem tax exemption for certain timber production, reforestation and harvesting equipment.
House Bill No. 997 Act No. 859 “Shall the Act be approved which grants a state-wide exemption from all ad valorem taxes for certain equipment used by timber producers in the production or harvest of timber?”
Yes
No
-B-
Expands ad valorem tax exemption for family-owned farms and adds qualified products to the exemption.
House Bill No. 498 Act No. 260 “Shall the Act be approved which expands a state-wide exemption from ad valorem taxes for agricultural equipment and certain farm products held by certain entities to include entities comprising two or more family owned farm entities, and which adds dairy products and unfertilized eggs of poultry as qualified farm products with respect to such exemption?”
Yes
No
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Commission seat and county-wide package sales will appear on ballot
