Straker unofficial winner in Clayton County special election

Unofficially Benjamin Straker won the July 14 special election runoff, defeating candidate Candice Jackson to hold the District 9 seat on the Clayton County Board of Education. The special election took place after Charlton Bivins resigned the post in January after he moved out of the district. “I’m ecstatic,” said Straker. “I think the community is looking for somebody who is going to be truly involved with the community.” Straker claimed 57.64 percent of the runoff vote unofficially. He earned 234 votes versus Jackson’s 172. A total of 406 votes were cast in the runoff. District 9 precincts accommodated 245 election-day voters, two more than ballots cast on and before the June 16 election day. Whether the election results will be certified by the next school board meeting is unknown.