Fulton County voters sent two incumbent county commissioners home in defeat Tuesday in an election expected to have big consequences for Fulton government.
In the Democratic primary, incumbent Chairman John Eaves held a narrow lead over incumbent Commissioner Robb Pitts with all precincts reporting. Emma Darnell appeared to have defeated Bill Edwards in south Fulton District 6, where the two incumbent Democrats were forced to run against each other because of redistricting.
In other Democratic primaries, incumbent Joan Garner defeated Eddie Lee Brewster in Atlanta District 4. The Atlanta District 5 race appeared to be headed for a July 22 runoff between Marvin Arrington Jr. and Brenda Muhammad.
In the Republican primary, Bob Ellis defeated Eric Broadwell in the race for north Fulton District 2, while Lee Morris defeated three other Republicans in the race for District 3.
The net result of Tuesday’s election: the seven-member commission will have at least three new faces, the most turnover in a generation.
The turnover is due in part to a redistricting plan engineered by north Fulton Republicans in the General Assembly last year. Many of their constituents have long felt shortchanged by a county government they say doesn’t give them their fair share of county services – a sentiment confirmed last year by an Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation.
The redistricting plan eliminated Pitts’ at-large seat in favor of a new north Fulton district – giving the region a greater say in county affairs. With his seat gone, Pitts chose to run against Eaves, who has held the chairman’s job since 2006. Pitts, a former Atlanta City Council member, has served as a county commissioner since 2002. The winner will face Republican Earl Cooper in the November general election.
Supporters for both Democrats cited their experience on the commission.
“I know he’s been around a long time,” College Park resident Audrey Pruitt said of Pitts. “He’s been a steady candidate.”
“I haven’t heard of any scandal involving John Eaves,” said Atlanta resident Carol Brantley. “These days, no news isn’t necessarily bad.”
The Republican plan also placed Darnell and Edwards – two longtime Democratic allies – in the same district. Rather than campaign against each other, the candidates chose to run on their lengthy records. If Tuesday’s unofficial results stand, Darnell will face Republican Abraham Watson in the general election.
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