By LEE HINNANT

Political newcomer Ronald Gore upset three-term incumbent David Dutton Tuesday to take the Democrat nod for the District 7 Columbus County commission seat. Gore – who also outpolled Democrat Bobby Joe Long – faces Republican Sammy Hinson in the November general election.

In District 6, Ricky Bullard took 56 percent of the votes cast to beat former county commissioner David McPherson for the Democrat nomination. If he can obtain enough signatures, unaffiliated candidate Howell Strickland will oppose Bullard in the general election.

Gore carried every precinct in District 7 – except for Williams 2 – and garnered 57 percent of the votes cast, compared to 33 percent for Dutton and 10 percent for Long. While overall turnout was 8 percent, 27 percent of District 7’s electorate cast votes.

“We felt comfortable that we were going to do well, but we didn’t know it would be this well,” Gore said. “We need representation for all the people.”

Gore said he believed voters shared his frustration with the direction county commissioners have been taking and he was tired of being apathetic. “I feel like we can make a change,” he said. “I feel like the people of Columbus County are the real winners.”
Dutton said he felt a sense of relief and believed that Gore could make a good commissioner.

“I just got beaten by a good man,” Dutton said. “People are ready for a change and they got it. It was a good, clean race.” Dutton added that he would continue to work hard during the remainder of his term and would assist the new commissioner in any way he could. He has no plans to again seek elected office, he said.
Long said he was pleased with how smoothly the election went but was disappointed in the low turnout. He said he did not plan to seek elected office again.

Gore took 820 votes, compared to 470 for Dutton and 149 for Long.

Bullard praised his opponent as “well-qualified” and said he and McPherson had become friends and made new friends during the campaign.

“I look forward to running in the November election and I look forward to some good, positive changes on the Board of Commissioners,” he said. Bullard thanked his supporters and particularly his family – wife Judy, son Matthew, daughter Ashley and sisters Saundra Nobles and Angel Memory. Bullard’s term on the Columbus County Schools Board of Education expires before he would be sworn in as a commissioner, should he win in November.

McPherson did not return a telephone message asking for comment.

Turnout in District 6 was 21 percent. Bullard carried all but the Tatum precinct. Overall, he polled 525 votes – 69 percent – to McPherson’s 231 votes, or 31 percent.

District 1’s race also won’t be decided until November, when incumbent Democrat Amon McKenzie faces Republican challenger Randall Adams.