By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Local races go to Republicans
Amy Muprhy NEW
Amy Murphy - photo by File photo

Republicans won handily in Bryan County Board of Education races Tuesday night, and the county’s bid to allow the sale of alcohol by the drink in unincorporated areas of the county beginning at 11 a.m. on Sundays passed by a 2 to 1 margin. 

Among the local races decided: Incumbent Amy Murphy will return for a second term as BOE chairwoman after running unopposed in Tuesday’s election. She had opposition earlier from Democrat Teresa Timmons and independent Kate Strickland, but both withdrew from the race.

District 1’s Shawn Page, a newcomer to public office, bested incumbent Pam Gunter in the Republican primary, then outpolled Democrat Melissa Alewine by a margin of 2,345 to 667.

District 4 incumbent Marianne Smith won her race against Democrat Walteria Maine by a vote of 3,575 to 1,021. 

District 5 incumbent David Schwartz was also re-elected to another four-year term. Schwartz outpolled Democrat Patricia Hewitt 2,114 to 1,058. 

County Commissioners Wade Price (D-2), and Gene Wallace (D-5) ran unopposed and will return to the board. Patrick Kisgen Jr. ran unopposed for the District 3 seat. All are Republicans.

All results are unofficial until certified by the Secretary of State.

More than half the county’s 30,721 registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s election, with 55.45 percent participating. Of those, 10,861 voted early in person, another 676 voted by mail-in absentee ballot and 5,497 voted Tuesday.

Sign up for our E-Newsletters