Runoff in sheriff's race, Penson and Richardson hold onto posts of clerk and chief magistrate

By John Bailey JBailey@RN-T.com
John Bailey

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Jun 10, 2020
Jun 10, 2020
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County technician Aric Thompson stacks absentee ballots to be counted alongside county election chief clerk Robert Brady on Wednesday afternoon.

Olivia Morley

Joe Costolnick (from left), Dave Roberson and Tannika King sit patiently in a vestibule at the Floyd County Administration Building while waiting for the results of absentee ballots to be counted on Wednesday afternoon. Costolnick is running for clerk of superior court and Roberson is running for sheriff.

Olivia Morley

Chief Magistrate Judge Gene Richardson and his family — Beverly, Raya and Elisa — wait in the Floyd County Administration Building on Wednesday afternoon for the results of absentee ballots which were still being processed. Richardson is seeking reelection to that post.

Olivia Morley

After the unofficial results came in as elections workers went home at 1:30 a.m. Thursday, results pointed toward a runoff in the sheriff's race.

Here are the totals in the sheriff’s race as of 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning:

♦ Tom Caldwell 5,079 (34.30%)

♦ Ronnie Kilgo 2,589 (17.55%)

♦ Dave Roberson 7,130 (48.15%)

Roberson had been maintaining a lead of over 50% of the vote, which is required to avoid a runoff, but dropped to 48.15% with the new totals. He'll face Caldwell again on Aug. 11.

There is no Democratic candidate in November.

Vote totals in the Republican Superior Court Clerk race have remained close but incumbent Barbara Penson stayed ahead of challenger Joe Costolnick. Penson will face Democrat Moriah Medina — who is unopposed for her party’s nomination — in the Nov. 3 general election.

♦ Joe Costolnick — 6,118

♦ Barbara Penson (I) — 8,238

State House District 13 incumbent Katie Dempsey beat a challenge in the GOP primary from software engineer and business owner Brad Barnes. Dempsey does not face a contender in November after Democrat candidate J. Scott Fuller dropped out.

♦ Brad Barnes — 1,280

♦ Katie Dempsey (I) — 5,594

The final race to be decided in this election is for the post of Floyd County Chief Magistrate. It’s nonpartisan, so this is winner-take-all.

Incumbent Gene Richardson, an attorney, defeated challenger Justin Hight. The chief magistrate presides over small claims civil suits, garnishments and evictions.

Here are the totals in that race:

♦ Justin Hight — 6,845

♦ Gene Richardson (I) — 12,239