Ahrens Defeats Cosby in Cherokee Commission Chair Race

Voters in Canton and Cherokee County decided they wanted to stay the course and overwhelmingly re-elected incumbent Commission Chair Buzz Ahrens to a third term.

Unofficial results show Ahrens won the race with 75 percent or 47,193 votes, compared to Independent challenger Carolyn Cosby’s 25 percent, or 15,955 votes. Cherokee County has a total of 129,454 registered voters and 67,497 voters — or 52 percent — cast ballots in the election.

Ahrens on Tuesday said the results show “we came out exactly where I thought we would.”

“The Cherokee voters decided that they wanted continuity in leadership and that’s what we are going to provide,” he said.

Ahrens added his campaign was organized around a message of honesty and integrity and voters “made the choice themselves” to stay the course.

Cosby said her campaign was a “great” one and she enjoyed meeting the numerous Cherokee County residents during this election season.

“It is with regret that I concede the race, but I am pleased with the solid Republican victory for David Perdue and Nathan Deal,” she added. “The percentages show I succeeded in some crossover voting, but it was a Republican dominated election following the national trend.”

Cosby added she remains dedicated to ”promoting a better future for our families and economic development in Cherokee County.”

Voters in the county seat also elected business owner Farris Yawn to the Ward 3 seat, which was vacated when the city named Glen Cummins its city manager.

Unofficial results show Yawn leading fellow challenger James Busi with 49.97 percent, or 2,235 votes. Busi garnered 49.21 percent, or 2,201 votes.

Busi said he would like to see a recount take place.

“With it being that close, I would want it done,” he added.

The city of Canton has 11,703 registered voters, and 5,324 turned out to vote.

Voters in Cherokee also overwhelmingly threw their support behind Nathan Deal in the race for governor. The incumbent Republican received 75 percent, or 50,051 votes, in Cherokee compared to Democratic challenger Jason Carter’s 21 percent, or 14,316. Libertarian candidate Andrew Hunt received 3.47 percent, or 2,318 votes.

For the U.S. Senate Seat, Cherokee County residents also backed Republican candidate David Perdue, with 76 percent, or 51,088 votes, compared to Democrat Michelle Nunn’s 21 percent — or 14,108 votes — and Libertarian challenger Amanda Swafford’s 2.67 percent, or 1,786 votes.

For state schools superintendent, Republican Richard Woods swept Cherokee County with 79 percent, or 51,761 votes. His Democratic challenger Valerie Wilson received 21 percent, or 13,654 votes.

Voters in Waleska rejected a measure to implement Sunday pouring sales and package sales. The pouring sales ballot initiative was rejected 60 percent, or 24 votes, to 40 percent, or 16 votes.

Sunday package sales also failed with 58 percent, or 23 votes, to 42 percent, or 17 votes. Waleska has 123 registered voters and 40 of those residents came to the polls.

Other statewide races in Cherokee County, including those pertaining to the Georgia General Assembly, can be viewed on the county’s Elections and Voter Registration’s website.