Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves appeared headed for re-election late Tuesday, leaving Democrats in charge of county government.
Elsewhere, Fayette County voters elected the first African American to the County Commission, while the race to replace DeKalb County Commissioner Elaine Boyer was headed for a runoff. Gwinnett County Commissioner Lynette Howard was winning her bid for re-election, while, in Cobb County, Republican Bob Weatherford was leading in a race to replace outgoing Commissioner Helen Goreham.
In Fulton, Eaves led Republican Earl Cooper in early returns. The incumbent is seeking his third term and has pledged to work to ensure stable funding for Grady Memorial Hospital, reduce recidivism and costs at the county jail and make county government more efficient.
Cooper, who leads a local nonprofit, criticized Eaves for supporting this year’s 17 percent property tax increase while also cutting library hours and funding for social services and other programs. A victory by Cooper would have given Republicans a majority on a commission that has been dominated by Democrats for decades.
Also in Fulton County, incumbent Democratic Commissioner Emma Darnell held a substantial lead over Republican Abraham Watson in the race to represent District 6 in south Fulton.
In other county government races late Tuesday:
Cobb County
Republican Bob Weatherford, a former Acworth councilman, held a commanding lead over newcomer Derrick Crump in Cobb County’s District 1 commission race, with about half of the precincts reporting.
Weatherford qualified for the general election by defeating former long-time commission chairman Bill Byrne in a July run-off election.
Weatherford, a former marine and police officer, said public safety would be a top priority – a significant promise in a county where funding for police has lagged for several years.
Weatherford also said he would be an advocate for smart growth that creates jobs, and would work to “ensure the Braves move to Cobb is a success.”
DeKalb County
The race to replace a disgraced DeKalb County commissioner is heading for a runoff.
Holmes Pyles, a retired state government employee, will face Nancy Jester, an actuarial consultant who previously served on the DeKalb Board of Education, in a runoff election Dec. 2.
None of the five candidates won more than 50 percent of the vote needed to avoid a runoff.
The winner of the race will represent more than 140,000 residents in north DeKalb, including Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville, Dunwoody and Tucker.
The seat had been held by Commissioner Elaine Boyer for 22 years before she resigned and pleaded guilty in September to a $93,000 fraud scheme.
Pyles has said he would clean up county government and support small businesses.
Jester has said she would make the county’s finances more transparent by putting government purchase records online.
The other three candidates in the race were Wendy Butler, a land use attorney; Tom Owens, a Vietnam veteran; and Larry Danese, a retired engineer.
Fayette County
Pota Coston, a retired federal law enforcement employee, appeared to be the making history as the first African American to be elected to the Fayette County Commission.
Gwinnett County
In early returns, Republican incumbent Lynette Howard had the lead in the race for Gwinnett’s District 2 commission race, ahead of Democratic challenger Jaime “Jay” Trevari.
Howard has said her priorities include senior housing, redevelopment and alternative means of transportation around the county.
Staff writers Arielle Kass, Dan Klepal, Katie Lesie, Mark Niesse and Tammy Joyner contributed to this report
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