The Board of Commissioners was set to have a new look in 2027 regardless of the election as Chairman Bill Sharp and Commissioner Jeff Wooten chose to not run for re-election.
After the results were counted Tuesday night, the three candidates who campaigned together for change will get just that. Steve Hersey, a district commissioner, won the Republican nomination for chairman, a position he has held before. Two newcomers in Jennifer Ray and Erin Olson — co-founders of the Taxpayers Watchdog Group that has gathered a large social media following — also won their primaries.
Olson won her contest outright with no Democrat or independent challenger.
Hersey will face independent Lenwood Pickens in November, pending the required signatures for nomination. Likewise, Ray has an independent challenger, Michael B. Griffin.
Read next week's edition for full coverage. Unofficial results posted below.
Commissioner Chairman - Republican
Charles R. Gray — 49.07% — 2,168
Steve Hersey — 50.93% — 2,250
While there is no Democratic challenger, Hersey will face independent candidate Lenwood Pickens (pending required signatures for nomination) in November.
County Commissioner - District 3 - Republican
George W. Hooker — 30.12% — 513
Erin Olson — 64.18% — 1,093
William Vargo — 5.70% — 97
With no Democratic challenger, Olson wins the race outright.
County Commissioner - District 4 - Republican
Paul Gardner — 44.60% — 640
Jennifer Ray — 55.40% — 795
While there is no Democratic challenger, Ray will face independent candidate Michael B. Griffin (pending required signatures for nomination) in November.
According to Kimberly Rudolph, elections supervisor for Putnam County, independent candidates cannot turn in their signature petitions until June 22 through July 14, so there is no way to know yet if they will meet the qualifications for the November election.
For state and national races, click here to see Putnam County's results.