Georgia state legislative special elections, 2011

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2011 State Legislative Special Elections
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In 2011, eleven special elections were held for the Georgia General Assembly. These elections were called to fill vacancies in the Georgia State Senate, Districts 26, 28, and 50, and the Georgia House of Representatives, Districts 10, 25, 43, 68, 113, 136, 139, and 178.

How vacancies are filled

If there is a vacancy in the Georgia General Assembly, the vacant seat must be filled by a special election. If the vacancy occurs during a legislative session, the governor must declare a special election no later than 10 days after the vacancy happens. If the vacancy occurs after the regular legislative session held during the first year of the term of office for members, the governor may order a special election at any time but no later than 60 days before the November general election. If the vacancy occurs between 60 days before the November general election and the next legislative session, the governor is required to order a special election within 10 days.

The special election must be held no less than 30 days and no later than 60 days after the governor calls for the election. The counties representing the vacant district are responsible for conducting the election.

See sources: Georgia Code § 21-2-544

Special elections

February 15, 2011

☑ Georgia House District 136
Tony Sellier (R) died on November 30, 2010, of congestive heart failure. He had won re-election in the November 2, 2010, general election. Candidates: Judye Sellier (R) Robert Dickey (R) Sharon Howard (D) (Howard withdrew from the race, citing serious health issues.)

☑ Georgia House District 178
Mark Williams (R) was appointed as Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources. Candidates: Gerald DeWitt (R) George Moxley (R) Chad Nimmer (R) Van Herrin (R) Jeana Brown (D)

June 21, 2011

☑ Georgia House District 113, Open Primary

See also: Georgia House District 113, Runoff Election On April 29, Hank Huckaby (R) resigned to become the new University of Georgia Chancellor. The special election for State House District 113 occurred in Oconee County and portions of Clarke, Morgan, and Oglethorpe counties. Candidates Charles Williams (R) and Dan Matthews (D) were the top two vote-getters. Since neither received a majority of the vote, a runoff election was held on Tuesday, July 19, 2011. Williams defeated Matthews in the runoff election. Runoff election Democratic Candidate: Dan Matthews 1,897 Republican Candidates: Charles Edward Williams 3,149 a Open primary Democratic Candidate: Dan Matthews 1,048 a Republican Candidates: Alan McFarland Alexander, Jr. 632 Sarah Virginia Bell 719 Charles Edward Williams 1,521 a

July 19, 2011

Georgia Senate District 26, Open Primary

See also: Georgia Senate District 26, Runoff Election Robert Brown (D) announced his resignation in May 2011 to seek the office of Macon Mayor. The special election for State Senate District 26 took place in Twiggs County and portions of Bibb, Houston, and Wilkinson Counties. The election was a nonpartisan special election with an open primary. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, a runoff election was held on Tuesday, August 16, 2011. Runoff Candidates: Miriam Paris 12,950 David Lucas, Sr. 10,220 Democratic Candidates: Miriam Paris a David Lucas, Sr. a Republican Candidate: Bobby Gale

☑Georgia House District 113, Runoff Election

On April 29, Hank Huckaby (R) resigned to become the new University of Georgia Chancellor. The special election for State House District 113 took place in Oconee County and portions of Clarke, Morgan, and Oglethorpe counties. The election was a nonpartisan special election with an open primary. Candidates Charles Williams (R) and Dan Matthews (D) were the top two vote-getters. Since neither received a majority of the vote, a runoff election was held on Tuesday, July 19, 2011. Democratic Candidate: Dan Matthews 1,897 Republican Candidates: Charles Edward Williams 3,149

☑ Georgia House District 139

David Lucas, Sr. (D) resigned to run in the special election for Senate District 26. The special election for State House District 139 took place in a portion of Bibb County. The election was a nonpartisan special election with an open primary. Since only two candidates qualified, a runoff election was not necessary. Democratic Candidates: James Beverly 2,893 Anissa M. Jones 1,521 Republican Candidates: No Republicans filed.

August 16, 2011

☑ Georgia Senate District 26, Runoff Election

Robert Brown (D) announced his resignation in May 2011 to seek the office of Macon Mayor. The special election for State Senate District 26 took place in Twiggs County and portions of Bibb, Houston, and Wilkinson Counties. The election was a nonpartisan special election with an open primary. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, a runoff election was held on Tuesday, August 16, 2011. Democratic Candidates: Miriam Paris 12,950 David Lucas, Sr. 10,220 Republican Candidate: Bobby Gale (Eliminated in primary)

September 20, 2011

Georgia House District 43, Open Primary

See also: Georgia House District 43, Runoff Election Bobby Franklin (R) passed away in late-July 2011. The election on September 20, 2011, was a nonpartisan special election. Party affiliation was listed, but all candidates appeared on the same ballot. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, a runoff election was held on October 18, 2011. Democratic Primary Candidates: No Democrats filed. Republican Primary Candidates: Roy Barnes 103 John Carson 801 a Don Hill 137 Robert Lamutt 699 a Geraldine Wade 496 General election candidates: John Carson 1,250 Robert Lamutt 668

October 18, 2011

☑ Georgia House District 43, Runoff Election

Bobby Franklin (R) passed away in late-July 2011. The September 20, 2011 election was a nonpartisan special election. Party affiliation was listed, but all candidates appeared on the same ballot. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, a runoff election was held on October 18, 2011. Democratic Primary Candidates: No Democrats filed. Republican Primary Candidates: Roy Barnes 103 John Carson 801 a Don Hill 137 Robert Lamutt 699 a Geraldine Wade 496 General election candidates: John Carson 1,250 Robert Lamutt 668

November 8

☑ Georgia House District 10

Rick Austin (R) resigned to run in the special election for District 50 of the Georgia State Senate. The special election was held on November 8. Party affiliation was listed, and all candidates appeared on the same ballot. Since Rogers received a majority of the vote, a runoff election was not held. Democratic Candidates: No Democratic candidates filed. Republican Candidates: Bruce Harkness, Sr. 1,395 Lori Duke Jones 862 Terry Rogers 3,593

Georgia House District 25, Open Primary

See also: Georgia House District 25, Runoff Election James Mills (R) resigned to accept an appointment to the state Pardons and Paroles board. The special election was held on November 8. Party affiliation was listed, but all candidates appeared on the same ballot. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters proceeded to a runoff election on December 6. Democratic Candidates: Paul Godfrey 372 Republican Candidates: Bobby Banks 982 a Emory West Dunahoo, Jr. 1,063 a Dominic Ottaviano 264 Todd Reed 934 William Sykes 702 Kris Yardley 667 General election candidates: Bobby Banks 931 Emory West Dunahoo, Jr. 1,580

Georgia Senate District 28, Open Primary

See also: Georgia House District 28, Runoff Election Mitch Seabaugh (R) resigned to accept an appointment to the position of deputy state treasurer. The special election was held on November 8. Party affiliation was listed, but all candidates appeared on the same ballot. A runoff election was scheduled for December 6. Democratic Candidates: Wayne Seabolt 1,062 Jammie Williams 698 Republican Candidates: Duke Blackburn 4,163 a Matt Brass 2,554 Mike Crane 2,984 a Kyle Frank 343 Dale Pepper 1,087 Edward Stone 658 Mark Washington - Non-Partisan Candidates: Cynthia Bennett 1,420 General election candidates: Duke Blackburn 3,520 Mike Crane 5,379

Georgia Senate District 50, Open Primary

See also: Georgia House District 50, Runoff Election Jim Butterworth (R) resigned to accept an appointment as Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard. The special election was held on November 8. Party affiliation was listed, and all candidates appeared on the same ballot. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, a runoff election was held on December 6. Democratic Candidates: Mary Beth Focer 1,417 Republican Candidates: Rick Austin 6,766 a Curtis Burger 263 David Strickland 1,063 John Wilkinson 6,129 a General election candidates: Rick Austin 5,071 John Wilkinson 7,166

December 6, 2011

☑ Georgia House District 25, Runoff Election

James Mills (R) resigned to accept an appointment to the state Pardons and Paroles board. The special election was held on November 8. Party affiliation was listed, but all candidates appeared on the same ballot. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters proceeded to a runoff election on December 6. Democratic Candidates: Paul Godfrey 372 Republican Candidates: Bobby Banks 982 a Emory West Dunahoo, Jr. 1,063 a Dominic Ottaviano 264 Todd Reed 934 William Sykes 702 Kris Yardley 667 General election candidates: Bobby Banks 931 Emory West Dunahoo, Jr. 1,580

☑ Georgia Senate District 28, Runoff Election

Mitch Seabaugh (R) resigned to accept an appointment to the position of deputy state treasurer. The special election was held on November 8. All candidates appeared on the same ballot. Because no candidate received a majority of the vote, a runoff election was held on December 6. Democratic Candidates: Wayne Seabolt: 1,062 Jammie Williams: 698 Republican Candidates: Duke Blackburn: 4,163 a Matt Brass: 2,554 Mike Crane: 2,984 a Kyle Frank: 343 Dale Pepper: 1,087 Edward Stone: 658 Mark Washington - Non-Partisan Candidates: Cynthia Bennett: 1,420 General election candidates: Duke Blackburn 3,520 Mike Crane 5,379

☑ Georgia Senate District 50, Runoff Election

Jim Butterworth (R) resigned to accept an appointment as Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard. The special election was held on November 8. Party affiliation was listed, and all candidates appeared on the same ballot. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, a runoff election was held on December 6. Democratic Candidates: Mary Beth Focer 1,417 Republican Candidates: Rick Austin 6,766 a Curtis Burger 263 David Strickland 1,063 John Wilkinson 6,129 a General election candidates: Rick Austin 5,071 John Wilkinson 7,166

Georgia House District 68, Open Primary

See also: Georgia House District 68, Runoff Election Tim Bearden (R) resigned to accept an appointment as Director of the Georgia Law Enforcement Training Center. The special election was held on December 6. Party affiliation was listed, and all candidates appeared on the same ballot. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, a runoff election was held on January 3, 2012. Democratic Candidates: No Democratic candidates filed. Republican Candidates: Dustin Hightower 892a Alan Martinez 454a Thom Fitzpatrick 318 Tim Whetstone 232 Marc Lattanzio 77 Libertarian Candidates: James Camp 162 General election candidates: Dustin Hightower: 1,260 Alan Martinez: 1,013

January 3, 2012

☑ Georgia House District 68, Run-Off

Tim Bearden (R) resigned to accept an appointment as Director of the Georgia Law Enforcement Training Center. The special election was held on December 6. Party affiliation was listed, and all candidates appeared on the same ballot. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, a runoff election was held on January 3, 2012. Democratic Candidates: No Democratic candidates have filed. Republican Candidates: Dustin Hightower 892a Alan Martinez 454a Thom Fitzpatrick 318 Tim Whetstone 232 Marc Lattanzio 77 Libertarian Candidates: James Camp 162 General election candidates: Dustin Hightower: 1,260 Alan Martinez: 1,013

See also

• State legislative special elections, 2011
• Georgia State Senate elections, 2010
• Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2010
• Georgia State Legislature

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