Out with the old:

Voters decide it's time for a change in commission race

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@thecitizennews.com

In yet another message to the politicians, the voters in Coweta County sent two incumbents packing Tuesday.

With only 10 percent deciding to vote, incumbent County Commissioner Charlie Jones lost to political newcomer Leigh Schlumper by a count of 1096-865. Jones left the election count before the totals were counted and did not comment about the results.

Jones’ commission district is proving to be the most volatile in the county. For the third straight election, voters have chosen a new commissioner.

Coweta also followed the lead of Spalding and Fayette counties in voting State Senator Rick Price out of office. Coweta residents threw their support to winner Mitch Seabaugh by a count of 2,491 to 1,675. (See related story.)

The final runoff race saw Allan Payton win a seat on the school board. Payton defeated local attorney Ike Hudson by a count of 2,456 to 1,789.

After his victory, Payton said he’s ready to go to work and is eager to face the challenge.

“I’m very thankful to the voters and I’ll do my best to support their trust,” he said.

Payton said he would like to see a lot more parental input taken into consideration by the board and a better working environment to make sure that everybody has a voice in decisions made by the board.