If one word could sum up the 2018 Paulding County primary it would start with an A. No, not that word. The word would be apathy. Compared to Cobb County’s paltry voter turnout of 17%, Paulding’s 15% doesn’t look that bad. However, the argument could be made that Cobb doesn’t face the same kind of issues that Paulding does. With issues like the other A word, infrastructure, taxes, and the county’s future in terms of economic development, one would think Paulding’s turnout would be higher. One would be wrong.
Here’s how the voter turnout ended up, and the results of the most discussed and debated races. For a full list of the voter turnout for Paulding, click here.
Paulding’s total registered voters – 97,172
Ballots cast – 15,369
Paulding County’s turnout – 15.38%
House District 17
Total voters – 36,994
Ballots cast – 5,919
HD 17’s turnout – 16.00%
Republican – 13.50%
Momtahan – 51.89% (2,593 votes)
Barnett – 48.11% (2,404 votes)
Democrat – 2.50%
Meers – 100% (922)
Momtahan will run against Meers in the general election on November 6, 2018.
House District 19
Total voters – 37,860
Ballots cast – 5,099
HD 19’s turnout – 13.47%
Republican – 9.60%
Rakestraw – 43.99% (1,599 votes)
Gullett – 31.66% (1,151 votes)
Dobbs – 24.35% (885 votes)
Democrat – 3.87%
Feliciano – 65.64% (961 votes)
Sims – 34.36% (503 votes)
Rakestraw and Gullett will run against each other in a July 24, 2018 runoff for the Republican spot. Felicano will face the winner of that runoff in the general election on November 6, 2018.
BOC Post 2
Total voters – 21,684
Ballots cast – 2,580
Post 2 turnout – 11.90%
Republican
Pownall – 47.09% (1,215 votes)
Kaecher – 28.60% (738 votes)
Pullen – 24.30% (627 votes)
Pownall and Kaecher will run against each other in a July 24, 2018 runoff for the Republican spot. Whoever wins the runoff will run unopposed in the general election on November 6, 2018.
BOC Post 3
Total voters – 23,626
Ballots cast – 3,279
Post 3 turnout – 13.88%
Republican – 9.51%
Hart – 54.70% (1,229 votes)
Collett – 45.30% (1,018 votes)
Democrat – 4.37%
Madric-Morris – 100% (1,032 votes)
Hart will run against Madric-Morris in the general election on November 6, 2018.
BOC Post 4
Total voters – 27,836
Ballots cast – 3,849
Post 4 turnout – 13.83%
Republican
Crowe – 35.28% (1,358 votes)
Stover – 35.23% (1,356 votes)
Boles – 21.20% (816 votes)
Ashworth – 8.29% (319 votes)
Crowe and Stover will run against each other in a July 24, 2018 runoff for the Republican spot. Whoever wins the runoff will run unopposed in the general election on November 6, 2018.
BOE District 5
Total voters – 97,172
Ballots cast – 13,188
BOE D5 turnout – 13.57%
Republican – 10.25%
Dean – 43.17% (4,300 votes)
Sowar – 41.49% (4,132 votes)
Whalen – 15.34% (1,528 votes)
Democrat – 3.32%
Belanger – 100% (3,228 votes)
Dean and Sowar will run against each other in a July 24, 2018 runoff for the Republican spot. Belanger will face the winner of that runoff in the general election on November 6, 2018.
BOE District 6
Total voters – 97,172
Ballots cast – 13,069
BOE D6 turnout – 13.45%
Republican – 10.25%
Anavitarte – 46.92% (4,674 votes)
Nolan – 31.98% (3,186 votes)
Fehlinger – 21.09% (2,101 votes)
Democrat – 3.20%
Charles – 100% (3,108 votes)
Anavitarte and Nolan will run against each other in a July 24, 2018 runoff for the Republican spot. Charles will face the winner of that runoff in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Dan Boles
May 24, 2018 at 4:49 pm
I have never understood the apathy myself. Voting, especially at the local level, is the heartbeat of America’s democratic republic. It is literally what makes our country distinct. Our vote is our voice. Personally, while I’m happy to see the needled moved upward in Post 4 compared to previous turnouts, I’m still quite surprised at just how low it really was. I was hoping we would break into at least 5,000 ballots cast territory. That would be approx. 18% of the registered voters, and would’ve been at least on par with neighboring Cobb County’s average turnout. It is what it is; I will be studying these numbers for the next couple weeks and analyzing the result in great depth. I may not have won my primary, or managed to make it into the runoff, but I will continue to be involved. This story isn’t over…
And to all the 816 people who voted for me and put their trust in me, thank you. I’ll be back. 😉