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If Georgia law doesn't require a recount due to the small margin,

incumbent District Attorney Bill McBroom said Thursday that he would ask

for one in his race.

With military ballots and a few others yet to be counted, McBroom was

defeated by Fayette attorney Scott Ballard 13,108 to 12,963 among the four

counties in the Griffin Judicial Circuit, including Fayette, Spalding,

Pike and Upson. There aren't enough outstanding ballots to make the

swing favor McBroom.

Fayette voters played the big role for Ballard, as he outpaced McBroom

10,149 to 5,703 locally with 98 percent of precincts reporting.

McBroom said he wanted the recount in recognition of all the hard work

of his supporters. Ballard said he would have done the exact same thing

had their roles been reversed.

"You've got people who worked so hard for you and go around

door to door," McBroom said.

McBroom said he would do everything he could to ease the transition for

Ballard, who plans to interview each employee of the office one-on-one

before making any personnel decisions.

"I really appreciate that from him," McBroom said. "I think

it's very nice of him to do that. ... I really do wish him well."

Due to the four malfunctioning cards from voter machines, both candidates

had to go to bed late Tuesday night, or early Wednesday morning, knowing

how close the race was without a decisive winner.

Ballard got the news of the victory at his law office Wednesday just before

noon. He was very thankful for the support of Fayette residents in particular.

"I had help from a group of about 30 or 40 people that just went

door to door and did everything you asked them to," Ballard said. "It's

so humbling to see so many people go out and work for you, not for pay

but because they believe in you."

Ballard also noted that at least 60 people displayed magnetic signs supporting

him on their vehicles. There are very few people Ballard said he would

go to that length for.

"I really needed every vote I can get, apparently," Ballard

said. "You look at something small somebody did for you that might

have gotten five votes and that was very critical."

Ballard has to get his law practice in order as he has to take care of

all his felony caseload as a private attorney before being sworn in as

DA January 1.

Ballard said the one-on-one interview process with McBroom's current

employees was important.

"That way I can get to know them and they can get to know me ...

get to know whether they would like to work for me," Ballard said.