Augusta voters to see few local races on Nov. 4 ballot

July 31--Federal and state races will dominate the Nov. 4 ballot after Augusta voters did most of their local decision-making in the May 20 partisan primary and nonpartisan election.

"Typically, when we are looking at November midterm elections, turnout will vary from the low 40s to the mid-50s," Richmond County Board of Elections Executive Director Lynn Bailey said of percentage voter turnout. "A lot of times it's driven by interest in the local races."

With a mayor and three new commissioners elected and a sales tax referendum defeated in the May 20 election and July 22 runoff, Augusta voters' races with local ties to decide Nov. 4 are two contested school board posts, two state Senate races and the 12th Congressional District election.

Three candidates -- Frank Beckles, Monique Braswell and Charlie Hannah -- are seeking the District 2 seat held by Eloise Curtis.

The other contested Richmond County Board of Education seat is in Super District 9, where incumbent Venus Cain faces a challenge from transportation worker James Swanagan.

Augusta businessman Rick Allen won his second attempt at the Republican nomination for U.S. Congress and will face Democratic incumbent John Barrow for the 12th Congressional District seat Nov. 4.

Two final contested races that involve Richmond County are the state Senate District 23 contest between Republican incumbent Jesse Stone and Democratic challenger Diane Evans and the state senate District 24 race between Republican incumbent Bill Jackson and challenger Brenda Jordan. Each district includes a small part of Richmond County.

Voters also will decide statewide partisan contests for governor, U.S. Senate, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and commissioners of insurance, labor and agriculture.

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