The candidates who finished with the most votes in their May primary races — Don Montgomery and Karen Krupp — continued that momentum Tuesday, winning their respective runoff elections.
Unofficial results show Karen Krupp defeated Audrey Singleton for school board vice chair by a count of 1,045 to 819, with Krupp garnering 56 percent of the vote. Montgomery defeated Andrew Johnson for solicitor general, 996-850, giving Montgomery 54 percent.
Bryan County Elections Supervisor Cindy Reynolds said there are still about 50 mail-in ballots to count.
Montgomery said that going into the primary, he expected, and was prepared for, the long haul.
“I think we all knew it would go to a runoff since all three of us were new,” he said. “No one had the advantage of being an incumbent.”
Krupp said she is relieved the campaigning is over.
“It was a lot of hard work by a lot of friends and supporters, and it paid off,” she said.
Runoffs are required when there are more than two candidates in a race and none receives 50 percent plus one vote. No Democrats filed for either office, meaning Krupp and Montgomery will be unopposed in the Nov. 8 general election.
Krupp finished first in her three-way primary with 1,371 votes, or 39.6 percent. Singleton was second with 1,228 votes, or 35.47 percent. Drew Humphreys finished third with 863 votes, just a shade below 25 percent. Humphreys quickly endorsed Krupp afterward.
Krupp said she thinks that support made a “huge difference” in Tuesday’s outcome.
“That meant a lot to me,” she said.
Montgomery was first in his primary with 1,192 votes, while Johnson had 1,113 and Chet Gregg had 1,105. Gregg requested a recount, which showed no change in those totals. Although Gregg chose not to endorse in the race, he did endorse Krupp in the school board runoff.
Montgomery said he knocked on about 3,000 doors between the primary and runoff elections.
“Meeting as many people face to face I think made a big difference,” he said.
Krupp said she “has a lot of homework” to do before her term on the school board begins.
“I’ve been reading up on the minutes from past meetings and have more to do,” she said.