Runoff in Georgia, metro Atlanta today

Staff reports

Georgia voters Tuesday will decide statewide runoffs for the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, plus a number of Superior Court judgeships, school board seats and other local offices.

Supreme Court Justice David Nahmias, appointed to the court by the governor in August 2009, faces challenger Tamela “Tammy” Adkins in the runoff for the state’s high court. Adkins didn’t campaign for the job or accept donations during the general election but still got 32.5 percent of the vote. Since getting in the runoff, she has mounted a vigorous campaign. Nahmias, who has widespread endorsements, led the field with 48.2 percent -- just short of the total needed to win the seat outright.

Turnout in statewide runoffs often depends on what’s at stake. In 2008, 41 percent of voters cast ballots in the runoff between Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Democratic challenger Jim Martin. In 2004 and 2006, however, when voters were deciding just one statewide seat in the runoff -- the state Court of Appeals in 2004 and a Public Service Commission seat in 2006 -- voter turnout was 5.7 percent and 4.9 percent, respectively.

For the Georgia Court of Appeals, Antoinette “Toni” Davis faces Chris McFadden. Davis, an Atlanta lawyer, led the general election with 25.5 percent of the vote, followed by McFadden, a Decatur lawyer, with 22.6 percent.

Undecided about who to vote for? Our guide at ajc.com/voterguide will allow you to find the candidates where you live, get biographical information and read their answers to questions pertinent to the office for which they're running -- in their own words. You can then print out a personalized ballot of your candidates so you're ready for the voting booth.

Statewide races

Georgia Supreme Court

Tamela "Tammy" Adkins

Age: 47

College: Meredith College

Law school: University of Bridgeport School of Law in Connecticut (now Quinnipiac University School of Law) (cum laude)

Professional: Adkins Law, a family law practice in Lawrenceville

David Nahmias (incumbent)

Age: 46

College: Duke University (summa cum laude)

Law school: Harvard University (magna cum laude)

Professional: Former law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia; lawyer with Hogan & Hartson in Washington; assistant U.S. attorney in Atlanta; U.S. Justice Department in Washington; U.S. attorney in Atlanta, 2004-09.

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State Court of Appeals

Antoinette "Toni" Davis

Age: 59

College: University of North Carolina

Law school: University of Georgia

Professional: Former staff attorney for the Georgia Supreme Court (1980-1994); private attorney, most recently for Atlanta firm Boone & Stone, specializing in trial preparation and appellate briefs.

Chris McFadden

Age: 53

College: Oglethorpe University

Law school: University of Georgia

Professional: Sole practitioner since 1988; co-founded and led State Bar of Georgia's Appellate Practice Section; co-authored the book "Georgia Appellate Practice"; president-elect of the Atlanta Bar Association.

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Cobb County

State Court -- Division II, Post 1

Two lawyers, Angela Brown and Jason Fincher, are competing for the nonpartisan seat formerly held by Judge Nancy Campbell, who did not seek re-election. In the general election, Brown led the three-candidate field with 41 percent of the vote. Fincher got 32 percent.

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DeKalb County

School Board District 1

Stay-at-home mom Nancy Jester (46 percent in the general election) and incumbent Jim Redovian (44 percent) are competing in the runoff. Jester has three small children and previously worked as an actuarial consultant in Atlanta and Texas. Redovian, the owner of Norcross-based industrial goods distributor Atlantic Southern Products Inc., took office in 2006. He also serves as president of the Stage Door Players, a Dunwoody theater group.

School Board District 7

Incumbent Zepora Roberts (36 percent in the general election) faces certified public accountant Donna Edler (32 percent). Roberts has been on the board eight years and currently serves as vice chairwoman. She is past president of the DeKalb NAACP. Edler has worked as an accountant and contract investigator for the federal government. She has served on the board of the Hidden Hills Civic Association and is involved with the PTA.

Superior Court judge -- Stone Mountain Circuit

DeKalb prosecutor Courtney Johnson (37 percent in the general election) faces Dunwoody lawyer Michael Rothenberg (26 percent). Johnson currently serves as an assistant district attorney, prosecuting felony cases. She previously worked in the DeKalb Solicitor-General’s Office, where she handled domestic violence cases. Rothenberg opened his law practice in Georgia in 2002, handling criminal defense, divorce, business litigation and other cases. He also serves as a part-time judge for DeKalb’s Recorders Court.

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Fulton County

Johns Creek City Council Post 5

Kelly Stewart, a human resources professional, led the five-candidate field with 41 percent of the vote. She now faces commercial banker Tim Jennette, who got 23 percent of the vote.

Superior Court judge -- Atlanta Circuit

Kelly Amanda Lee led the five-candidate field with 25 percent of the vote. Lee owns her own law office specializing in business litigation and insurance coverage cases. She now faces Shelitha Robertson, who got 22 percent of the vote. Robertson is a managing attorney for Robertson and Associates specializing in criminal and civil litigation. A recount in this race earlier this month did not change Lee's and Robertson's positions as the top two candidates.

AJC staff writers Bill Rankin and Megan Matteucci contributed to this chart.