The biggest story from the May 21 primary election may have been the low turnout, with just 12.3% of Putnam County voters casting ballots.
One local race was on the ballot in District 4 for the Board of Education. Charles Trumbo defeated Mary Farmer for the Republican nomination.
No Democrat qualified for the position, so Trumbo will take his seat on the BOE in January 2025 unless there is a successful write-in campaign. Trumbo previously ran as a write-in candidate for chairman of the Board of Commissioners against Bill Sharp.
Trumbo earned 239 votes compared to 200 for Farmer. Voter turnout was 11.8% for District 4.
In other races, Jessica Fore won 228 votes to Alexandra Doherty’s 214 for the Democratic nomination for the 10th Congressional District. However, the rest of the district voted differently, as Doherty took 59.01% of the vote. She will face incumbent Republican Mike Collins in November.
State Sen. Rick Williams handily defeated Republican opponent Leland Jake Olinger by 1,448 votes to 141. District-wide, the story was the same, as Williams earned 87.63% of the ballots cast.
State Rep. Trey Rhodes, Republican, will face Melanie Miller in November. She earned 81.96% of the votes in the district, with similar results in Putnam. Miller received 187 votes to 51 for Rickie Glenn.
The county’s constitutional officers all ran unopposed. The remaining races to be decided in November are:
• Dale Washburn, Republican incumbent for State House District 144, challenged by Democrat Anita Hyland
• Daniel Brown, Republican county commissioner for District 2, challenged by Democrat Richard Garrett
Early voting for the Nov. 5 general election will begin Oct. 15. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7. To check voter registration status, visit mvp.sos.ga.gov.