A majority of Fayette voters said “no” to a proposed countywide sales tax, and while Peachtree City residents elected three councilmembers, they will face a Dec. 3 runoff election to decide whether Vanessa Fleisch or Harold Logsdon will be their next mayor. Incumbent mayor Don Haddix was sent packing with less than 250 votes.
Meanwhile in Tyrone, incumbent Post 3 councilman Ken Matthews won by a six-vote margin over challenger Pota Coston. And in Woolsey voters rejected a proposal to allow Sunday alcohol package sales by a vote of 16-12, breaking a tie from the previous election.
In Peachtree City, Kim Learnard handily won reelection to her Post 3 council seat beating Cathy Haddix 3,824 to 588. Likewise, Terry Ernst took the Post 4 seat with 2,763 votes to 1,467 for Stephanie Franz. The Post 2 seat in Peachtree City was claimed by Mike King, who pulled in 2.915 votes to beat Shayne Robinson (865) and Austin Chanslor (341).
Though county voters rejected the sales tax 5,522 to 4,135, they did approve allowing Sunday sales by the drink in establishments located in the unincorporated county. The Sunday sales initiative passed with 6.313 in favor and 3,339 against.
In the mayor’s race, Fleisch won 39.2 percent of the vote to lead the pack trailed by Logsdon at 27.37 percent. The remainder of the field was led by George Dienhart with 20.29 percent, Ryan Jolly with 7.65 percent and incumbent Mayor Don Haddix bringing up the rear at 5.05 percent.
In losing the SPLOST vote, the county won’t get a planned $16.8 million to handle stormwater infrastructure projects in the unincorporated county, where residents will continue to pay the stormwater utility bill. Those funds will be used to finance about $5 million in bond to handle the most urgent projects, county officials have said.
Peachtree City also loses a significant chunk of revenue, more than $14 million, with the SPLOST being sacked. The city had planned to use that money to pay for its road and cart path repairs for several years. It costs about $1.5 million a year to accomplish that, and with money exhausted from the 2004 transportation sales tax, the city will have to find a funding mechanism elsewhere.
These are the final results from tonight’s election although they are not yet certified and official.
PTC Mayor:
George Dienhart 957
Vanessa Fleisch 1,849
Don Haddix 238
Ryan Jolly 361
Harold Logsdon 1,291
PTC Post 3:
Cathy Haddix 588
Kim Learnard 3,824
PTC Post 4:
Terry Ernst 2,763
Stephanie Franz 1,467
PTC Post 2:
Austin Chanslor 341
Mike King 2,915
Shayne Robinson 865
Tyrone Post 3:
Pota Coston 653
Ken Matthews 659
SPLOST:
Yes: 4,135
No: 5,522
Sunday alcohol sales by the drink:
Yes: 6,313
No: 3,339
