By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@thecitizennews.com

Election Night 2000 in Coweta offered a montage of scenes from fretting candidates to curt cell phone calls and the chomping of chicken fingers.

When the dust settled around 9:30 Tuesday night, several candidates found themselves in run-offs.

Incumbent County Commissioner Charlie Jones will face political newcomer Leigh Schlumper in the Aug. 8 election.

Schlumper polled 799 votes to Jones' 779, with Jim Morgan in third place with 611 votes.

“The only thing I know to do is to get back working,” said Jones.

The most surprising thing to Jones was the low turnout of 19 percent.

“It really shocks me,” he said.

As results were posted, many of the more than 50 residents in the Magistrate Courtroom in Newnan milled around and updated candidates via the year 2000 version of the telegraph — the cell phone.

Several political junkies munched on chicken wings and vegetables furnished to the crowd and nervously waited for more results to be posted.

In the race for Board of Education, District 2, Allan Payton led the crowded field of six candidates with 1,758 votes. Local attorney Ike Hudson came in second with 1,586 votes and will face off against Payton Aug. 8.

The other school board race for District 6 was won by Marihope Shirey Troutman with 447 votes to William Word's 210 votes.

The other runoff in August is between incumbent state Sen. Rick Price and Coweta resident Mitch Seabaugh. Price garnered 2,663 votes Seabaugh's 2,239 votes.

Perhaps the evening's biggest shocker was incumbent Clerk of Superior Court Joan Griffies losing to Mary Jane Thompson, who used to work in the clerk's office.

Thompson polled 3,195 votes to Griffies' 3,036 votes in the night's closest contest. Both candidates were no-shows as the returns poured in and whispers throughout the courtroom indicated many people were intrigued by the results.

The clerk election was overshadowed by a Georgia Bureau of Investigation probe into missing funds from the clerk's office. Thompson resigned from her post there earlier this year.

In the night's other contested race, incumbent Rep. John Yates easily defeated Newnan's Bill McBroom. Yates received 843 votes in the District 106 race, while McBroom received 327 votes. Yates will face Griffin businessman Lee Howell in the November election.

“Needless to say, we are all disappointed about the results of the primary. I want to thank those voters of the 106th District that expressed their confidence in my candidacy,” said McBroom.

“We ran a hard campaign, and I deeply appreciate the support I have received from the many people that worked on and contributed financially to my campaign,” he added.

McBroom also appreciated the conduct of the campaign.

“Many campaigns these days have become very negative. I appreciate the way Mr. Yates conducted his campaign. I wish Mr. Yates the best of luck against Mr. Howell in November.”

The fall election is set for Nov. 7.