Athens voters poised to elect next mayor

Athens-Clarke County voters will return to the polls Nov. 30 to elect a new mayor.

Clarke County Tax Commissioner Nancy Denson faces off against former Mayor Gwen O’Looney. Denson, who garnered 8,929 votes during the Nov. 2 election, has served as tax commissioner since 1985, while O’Looney, who picked up 6,091 votes, served as mayor from 1991-1998.

In Georgia, a candidate needs a majority of the vote – “50 percent plus one” – to avoid a runoff. A total of five candidates were vying to serve as the next mayor of Athens.

Voters in the county’s District 5 will also elect a new commissioner. Jared Bailey garnered 1,389 ballots to Dave Hudgins’ 1,181 votes in the three-person race.

Athens voters, along with voters across Georgia, will also deciding on a pair of state offices.

In the Georgia Supreme Court race, David Nahmias topped the field of three and picked up 48.2 percent of the vote. Tammy Lynn Adkins came in second with 35.2 percent.

Nahmias, a former federal prosecutor in Atlanta, was appointed to the Supreme Court in August 2009. Adkins is a family attorney in Lawrenceville.

In the Appeals Court race, Antoinette “Toni” Davis led a crowded field with 25.5 percent of the vote. Chris McFadden came in second with 22.6 percent of the vote.