Close races in Holmes County primaries

BONIFAY – The large crowd on hand at the Holmes County elections office expected some close races Tuesday night, and they were not disappointed. Two primaries were determined by a handful of votes as 4,865 Holmes Countians went to the polls. There are 11,269 registered voters in the county.

School Board District 2 was tight as incumbent Gary Scott edged Debbie Kolmetz 2,398 to 2,369. There is no recount according to Supervisor of Elections Debbie Wilcox Morris as there had to be a difference of 23 votes or less in this race.

Scott, sunburned from a day of traditional Holmes County campaigning, said he would speak later.

The other close race was the Republican primary for County Commission District 1 as Wesley Adams, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church defeated businessman Bobby Sasnett 571-557. Again, there needed to a difference of five votes or less for a recount, Morris said.

Adams will face Democratic incumbent Jim King, who defeated challenger Larry Sellers 2,242-1,294.

“I really appreciate the vote that turned out,” King said.

Sheriff Dennis Lee won the Democratic nomination with 2,045 votes to defeat corrections officer Gary Taylor with 898 votes and Graceville Assistant Chief of Police Johnny Whitaker with 642 votes. Lee faces a rematch with former Holmes County Deputy Sheriff Tim Brown, who once again captured the Republican nomination by defeating former Commissioner Harold Smith 802-318.

“I just want to thank the other two guys that ran against me,” Lee said. “They ran a good, clean campaign.”

“I appreciate meeting everybody I got to meet over the past few months,” Brown said. “I’ve been blessed to have a lot or people helping me out there.”

Lee defeated Brown in the general election in 2004.

In the Democratic primary for tax collector incumbent Harry Bell defeated challengers Janis Barton and Marsha Sherrouse. Bell garnered 1,733 votes, while Barton, who Bell edged for the nomination four years ago, tallied 1,202. Sherrouse got 659 votes.

“I appreciate your trust in me and I’m excited to move forward to the general election,” Bell said.

Incumbent Democrat Philip Music was re-nominated for the District 3 Commission seat by defeating former Tax Collector Fran Fuller 2,204-1,377.  Music will face Republican challenger Jerry Cooley in November.

“I want to thank all the voters in Holmes County who had faith in me,” Music said.

Brad Drake took the most votes in the Republican Primary for District 5 State Representative, taking 880 votes to Sherry Campbell’s 275.