While some aspects of election day ended as expected, with Republicans dominating local races, Macon County will face big business changes, and, there was a surprise finish that was so close, it will be talked about for years.
In terms of local turnout, local precincts visited by Macon Sense reported a steady flow of voters most of election day.
For Macon County seats, John Shearl handily won reelection as a county commissioner while Gary Shields made the move to the Macon County School Board with a decisive win. Kellie McConnell Burns and Dylan Castle both won commissioner seats to replace Danny Antoine and Gary Shields.
Sheriff Brent Holbrooks won reelection unopposed.
The shockers came from two directions: for the first time in years, Democrats flipped the 11th Congressional district to send Jamie Ager to Washington, D.C. , while the third failed attempt to raise the county sales and use tax by a 1/4 penny failed by less than 10 votes.
Republicans win again in most local races
With all precincts reporting, State Senator Kevin Corbin and House Representative Karl Gillespie won their reelections handily.
State Senate:
- Kevin Corbin (R) – 55,374 votes, 58.19%
- Tom Downing (D) – 39,781 votes, 41.81%
State Representative:
- Karl Gillespie (R) – 25,619 votes, 67.88%
- Caleb Brown (D) – 12,120 votes, 32.12%
In Macon County, Republicans running for county commissioner also dominated.
County Commissioner, District 1:
- John Shearl (R) – 8,649 votes, 54.61%
- Russ Lunn (D) – 7,190 votes, 45.39%
County Commissioner, District 2 (top two finishers win):
- Kellie McConnell Burns (R) – 8,430 votes, 29.30%
- Dylan Castle (R) – 8,324 votes, 28.93%
- Terry Bell (D) – 6,442 votes, 22.39%
- Janet Jacobs Greene – 5,572 votes, 19.37%
School Board District 2 (nonpartisan):
- Gary Shields – 6,743 votes, 47.16%
- Kaleena Keener Messer – 3,780 votes, 26.44%
- Stephanie Hyder Laseter – 3,775 votes, 26.40%
School Board District 4 (nonpartisan):
- Diedre Breeden – 9,097 votes, 67.40%
- Robert (Bob) Perkins – 4,401 votes, 32.60%
Macon Soil and Water Conservation District (nonpartisan, top two finishers win)
- Pamela Peek Bell – 8,192 votes, 43.18%
- Matthew Reynolds – 6,944 votes, 36.60%
- Greg Zickgraf – 3,837 votes, 20.22%
Shockingly close
The biggest surprise of the night may not have been that the local sales tax increase failed for the third time, given the Republican-dominated county, but how close the race was.
Nine votes decided the difference.
Macon County local sales and use tax:
- Against – 7,862 votes, 50.03%
- For – 7,853 votes, 49.97%
No longer a dry county
The state of the county, and its growth, may have taken the biggest step when residents overwhelmingly approved two referenda ending the county’s prohibition against alcohol sales.
Malt beverage sales:
- For – 10,711 votes, 70.03%
- Against – 4,583 votes, 29.97%
Unfortified wine sales:
- For – 10,672 votes, 70.19%
- Against – 4,533 votes, 29.81%
Democrats flip federal seats
U.S. Senate:
- Roy Cooper (D) – 2,467,963, 58.72%
- Michael Whatley (R) – 1,643,088, 39.09%
U.S. Representative, District 11:
- Jamie Ager (D) – 195,637, 57.14%
- Jennifer Capps Balkom (R) – 141,427, 41.30%
Statewide constitutional amendments
Require photo ID for voting:
- For – 2,463,276 votes, 59.60%
- Against – 1,669,764 votes, 40.40%
Maximum income tax rate of 3.5%:
- For – 2,559,732 votes, 61.92%
- Against – 1,574,188 votes, 38.08%
Property tax levy limit:
- For – 2,492,761 votes, 60.42%
- Against – 1,632,700 votes, 39.58%
