Retired Marine Col. Mike Boyce out-gained incumbent Tim Lee in the Cobb Commission chairman’s race Tuesday night, but appeared to fall just short of an out-right win. The two candidates appear to be headed for a run-off election July 26.
Boyce ran an extensive grass-roots campaign that launched in January and included visiting more than 23,000 homes of registered voters and calling more than 47,000. He was less than one-percentage point short winning the necessary 50 percent to avoid a run-off, with 97.2 percent of the votes tallied, according to unofficial election results on the Cobb County Elections website.
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Boyce said he won’t change a thing in his approach over the next two months, if there is a run-off.
“I can assure you, this accomplishment is a direct result of my army of volunteers,” Boyce said. “I’ve got another two months in me because my army has another two months in them.”
Lee, chairman since 2010, ran a campaign that focused on the deal to build a new stadium for the Atlanta Braves. He painted himself as a conservative who has cut property tax rates to pre-recession levels while also making big investments in public safety — creating 80 new police officer positions and providing investments in police cars, equipment and benefits. Lee’s direct mail advertising says his “unquestioned conservative leadership” has created 19,000 jobs, led to continuation of the county’s high bond rating and to $1.2 billion in transportation improvements.
Lee did not return a message from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution seeking comment.
Retired businessman Larry Savage placed a distant third in the race.
In the other Cobb Commission Republican primary, incumbent Bob Ott easily defeated first-time candidate Jonathan Page.
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