The May 19 primary resolved one non-partisan contest in Jones County but resulted in several runoffs statewide, including who the Republican candidate for Governor will be in November.
The only local contest in the election was for the Board of Education Chairman. Incumbent Ginger Bailey was challenged by Marilyn Norfleet. After the qualifications for the non-partisan board positions in March, Bailey was the only board member who faced a challenge.
Voter turnout for the May 19 election was 27.64 percent. That breaks down to 5,976 ballots cast. The number of registered voters in Jones County is 21,621. Approximately 70 percent of those voters opted to cast their ballots on election day. There were 147 who voted by absentee ballots.
After all the votes were counted, Bailey kept her position of chairman with 3,523 votes to Norflett’s 2,132. The incumbent received more than 62 percent of the votes.
District 1 Representative Mike Gordon, District 2 Representative Kim Washburn, District 3 Representative Dr. Nancy Nash and District 4 Representative Brady Skinner were not opposed.
Because the Board of Education seats in Jones County are non-partisan, the May 19 election decided the contest. The new terms for all the board members begin Jan. 1, 2027.
Bailey and Norfleet set a good example about how an election can be conducted during their campaigns. The candidates treated each other with courtesy and respect at an April 27 candidate forum. They disagreed on many topics without any name calling or personal attacks, and their campaign ads focused on their platforms.
The forum was expertly moderated by William Mathews with questions submitted by the public prior to the event and members of the audience. The entire event was live streamed on the Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce Facebook page by JCSS Communications Director Adam Gillhouse. At the end of the forum, there were more than a dozen questions that had not been asked due to the time allotted.
The leftover questions were emailed to the candidates. Their responses were printed in the next edition of The Jones County News and posted on the jcnews. com website.
The actual hand-written questions were given to Jones County School System Superintendent Dr. Jessica Graves due to the fact that many of them pertained more to the role of superintendent than board chairman. The point is that the concerns of the public got into the right hands.
In a text following the election, Norfleet said the process worked and the people spoke.
“It is well with my soul. I did what I believe God wanted me to do,” she said. “I enjoyed it.”
Bailey texted her comments Friday and began by thanking citizens of Jones County for their support.
“So many of you came forward to help me. I am humbled by your efforts. Now it is time for all of us to come together and focus on educating our children for their future success,” she said.
The runoff for the primary election will take place June 16. Advance Voting for the runoff will be held for one week only, Monday, June 8, through Friday, June 12, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. There will be no Saturday voting.
Advance Voting in Jones County takes place in the Elections Office at the Jones County Government Center, 166 Industrial Blvd, Gray.
Voting on the day of the June 12 runoff is held at each Jones County precinct from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information call the elections office at 478-986-3222.
Jones County Board of Education – Chairman
• GingerBailey(I)–62.30%–3,523
• MarilynNorfleet–37.70%–2,132
U.S. Senate – Republican
• MikeCollins–49.50%–1,727
• BuddyCarter–26.31%–918
• DerekDooley–20.55%–717 Statewide it is Collins and Dooley who are headed to the June 16 runoff as neither secured enough votes to win outright
Georgia Governor – Republican
• RickJackson–34.21%–1,227
• BurtJones–49.32%–1,769 Jackson and Jones are headed to a runoff
Georgia Governor – Democrat
• KeishaLanceBottoms–66.62% – 1,511
• Michael“Mike”Thurmond–14.64% – 332 Lance Bottoms will face either Jackson or Jones in the general election in November
Lieutenant Governor – Republican
• JohnF.Kennedy–36.49%—1,267
• BlakeTillery–25.46%–884
• GregDolezal–12.90%–448 Statewide, Kennedy and Dolezal are heading to the runoff election
Lieutenant Governor – Democrat
• JoshMcLaurin–40.24%–860
• NabilahParkes—32.57%—696 Statewide, McLaurin and Parkes are heading to the runoff election
State House – District 149 – Democrat
• FloydGriffin(I)–75.71%–530
• RossSheppard–24.29%–170
Griffin won with nearly 80% of the vote districtwide, so he will face Republican Randy Peters, who was unopposed for the Republican nomination, in November.
More information on statewide election results can be found on the Georgia Secretary of State website: sos.ga.gov/ elections.
