PAULK II WINS DOUGLAS WARD 3 RACE, LITTLETON KEEPS MAYOR'S SEAT IN BROXTON

The City of Douglas Mayor and Board of Commissioners now has two Tony Paulks while Broxton’s mayor and the three incumbents in its city council race return to office. The countywide eSPLOST overwhelmingly passed as well — with only 8 percent voter turnout.

The only race in Douglas that featured more than one candidate was the bid for the Ward 3 city commission seat. Long-time commissioner Olivia Pearson had decided not to run for another term. Two candidates joined the race — Gregory Batts and Tony Paulk II (nephew of Mayor Tony Paulk). Batts had the support of Commissioner Pearson while Paulk II, predictably, had the support of the mayor and the rest of the Paulk family.

The race should have had more interest than it did. In the end, only 292 of 1,074 voters in Ward 3 cast ballots (27 percent turnout). Paulk II won the day 180-107. “I want to thank my family. I come from a political family and we have a strong foundation, a strong base. I couldn’t do it without my uncle, my aunties, my grandma — I know she’s in Heaven smiling down. I’m ready to get to work, to go learn what I can do in this seat, and I want to work for the community. Go Trojans!” said Paulk II after all the votes were in.

In Broxton, incumbent mayor Jimmy Littleton defeated challenger Carlos Wilkerson 138-80. The Broxton City Council election featured five candidates; the top four took seats on the council. Incumbents Helen Jones (166 votes), Ruth Christian (150 votes), and Bill Whiddon (121 votes) will return to office. Newcomer Greg Zachery is also now a city councilman after earning 145 votes. Wanda Kirschbaum missed a council seat after she received 108 votes.

There was one countywide referendum on the ballot — a continuation of the eSPLOST. It passed 1,312 to 396.