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DEL.ICIO.USChairman Loses
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cherokee County voters tossed out their commission chairman, but kept two other incumbents Tuesday.
Cherokee Chairman James Michael Byrd wanted to do what no recent chairman of the commission has done — get re-elected. But with all the votes counted — except for provisional ballots — the night belonged to Leavitt “Buzz” Ahrens Jr.
Ahrens said Byrd had called him to concede. Ahrens was winding down at 11 p.m. from his day that started at 3:30 a.m. planting campaign signs.
“I think the residents … recognized a change was needed and they made it happen,” Ahrens said.
Ahrens is a retired corporate officer for Newell Rubbermaid who’s making his political debut. He emphasized the need for balanced growth.
“I think there’s a dimension of leadership they can see. What you see is what you get,” he said.
Since the county switched to its current governing system in 1991, no incumbent for the county’s top job has managed to fend off a political challenge. Since there are no Democratic contenders, the primary is the deciding contest.
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