In 2004, Clayton County voters elected a new wave of leadership that reflected the county's rising African-American population.

On Wednesday, many of those leaders faced a new battle for their political survival.

Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell, Sheriff Victor Hill, District Attorney Jewel Scott and District 3 Commissioner Wole Ralph all face runoffs after Tuesday's Democratic Party primary.

The runoffs are scheduled for Aug. 5.

None of the incumbents won more than 50 percent of the vote. Hill came the closest, with slightly more than 49 percent of ballots cast. He faces Kem Kimbrough, a former Clayton sheriff's employee.

Bell faces a runoff against Lee Scott, a businessman and Jewel Scott's husband. Bell and Lee Scott did not return telephone calls for comment Wednesday.

Jewel Scott, who has a runoff against Clayton Juvenile Court Judge Tracy Graham-Lawson, seemed stunned by the results.

"I never envisioned a runoff," she said. "But I will continue to campaign until the runoff. Our efforts this time will be directed to get the voters out because the turnout was so low."

Graham-Lawson said she is confident of her second chance against Scott, who beat her 41-38 percent.

"I feel very positive I will win," she said.

Jewel Scott swept into office with 60 percent of the vote in July 2004 as the county's first black district attorney.

Jewel Scott, Bell, Hill, Ralph and others were elected that year with promises that they would better address the needs of Clayton's black population, which is now about 62 percent, the highest in the Atlanta region.

However, many residents have been frustrated by infighting among some of those leaders.

Kimbrough said Wednesday he was catching his second wind on the road to the runoff.

"I'm tired but getting re-energized," he said. "Two of the other candidates have pledged to support me, and we're moving forward from there. It is clear 51 percent of the voters don't want Victor in office."

Hill did not return two telephone calls Wednesday. He has consistently declined interview requests from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since January 2007. The winner of that race faces Republican challenger Jack Rainwater in November.

Gail Hambrick was the lone commission candidate who avoided a runoff, winning the District 2 seat with nearly 60 percent of ballots cast. Incumbent Commissioner Virginia Gray unsuccessfully campaigned to unseat Bell for commission chair.