A run-off election Tuesday will determine the Republican candidate for Lowndes County Circuit Clerk and Democratic candidate for District 42 House of Representatives.
The current circuit clerk is not expecting many people at the polls.
“Typical turnout in a run-off is pretty low,” Circuit Clerk Haley Salazar, who is not seeking re-election, said. “It usually depends on which candidate can get people out to vote.”
Salazar said it is hard to get people to the polls again, especially for one major race — only two precincts, Crawford and Plum Grove, will vote in the House 42 run-off.
As the circuit clerk office prepares for fewer ballots cast, it is budgeting fewer dollars for man power.
Salazar said her office paid $36,000 to 185-200 poll workers who helped tally votes in the Aug. 4 primary. She expects to pay around 100 workers a combined $15,000 to 20,000 on Tuesday.
The race
The Republican run-off pits long-time deputy circuit clerk Teresa Barksdale against Columbus businessman Justin Shelton. Both candidates acknowledged the challenge of getting their supporters out to the polls Tuesday.
Barksdale said she has been campaigning via social media, advertisements and word of mouth to remind voters to vote. A long-tenured employee at the circuit clerk’s office, Barksdale knows the reality of run-off elections and participation, but that has not slowed her attempts to get her message across to voters.
“I’ve been in the office for 20 years, and I know how the office runs in terms of the elections, marriages, the jury and criminal and civil court,” she said. “As my motto has been through out this whole thing — let my experience work for you.”
While Barksdale is leaning on experience, her opponent is hoping voters are ready for a new way of doing things in the circuit clerk’s office.
“I think we need a different perspective in that office — someone who understands a younger generation,” Shelton said.
He said the office needs to have information online and more readily available for citizens.
Shelton said he respects that people are busy and can forget about the upcoming run-off.
“You do everything you can to remind them,” Shelton said. “I use everything available from Facebook, to email, to phone calls, to knocking on doors and going to see people. Everything I have at my fingertips I try to use.”
Both candidates were in attendance at the Heritage Academy home football game Friday night.
The winner of the Republican run-off will face Libertarian Sheri Taylor Bedwell, Independent Tim Heard, Independent Jackie Leach, and Democrat Joseph Mickens in the November general election.
The Democratic run-off for the House 42 Representative pits Eugene Crosby against Carl Mickens.
Lowndes County polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
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