A very low voter turnout decided the fate of several ballot measures and municipal elections in Chattooga County on Tuesday.  Voters approved the Education Special Local Option Sales Tax by an overwhelming eighty percent, according to unofficial vote totals on Tuesday evening.  

In the City of Summerville, one incumbent councilman lost his seat, while another won by an overwhelming margin.  Councilman Dale Housch received thirty-nine percent of the vote total and was defeated by Earl Parris, Jr. who garnered sixty-one percent of the vote.  Councilman Zach Martin held onto his seat and was re-elected with seventy-two percent of the vote against challenger Charles Bennett. 

In Trion's municipal elections there were two contested raceLinda Ingle won a council seat in a three-way race, defeating the incumbent Thomas Vinn.  Incumbent councilman Don Harris won re-election to his seat  in a three way race with a little over fifty percent of the vote total. 

Voters in Lyerly approved liquor sales on Sunday, making it the only place in Chattooga County where liquor sales are legal and where alcohol can be purchased on Sunday.  The yes vote on Sunday liquor sales past by four votes, with twenty-nine voters in favor of Sunday sales and twenty-five against.  Voters also decided to keep fluoride in the city's water system with a final vote of thirty in favor and twenty-four against.

Some voters in the municipalities were not happy about having to vote at two separate places.  In Lyerly voters had to vote at Lyerly City Hall for the municipal elections and then go to Lyerly First Baptist Church to vote in the county sales tax referendum and in Summerville voters had to vote at Summerville City Hall in the municipal election and then go vote at the Chattooga Civic Center in the County Election.  

UNOFFICIAL RETURNS:  

ELECTION RETURNS – NOVEMBER 3, 2015

SUMMERVILLE ELECTION RETURNS:

EARL PARRIS, JR. – 185

DALE HOUSCH (I) – 117

 

ZACH MARTIN – 219

CHARLES BENNETT – 85

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LYERLY ELECTION RESULTS

SUNDAY SALES YES – 29

SUNDAY SALES NO – 25

FLUORIDE IN WATER YES – 30

FLUORIDE IN WATER NO – 24

GWEN FISHER UNOPPOSED – RECEIVED 30 VOTES

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TRION ELECTION RETURNS

SEAT FOUR

  INGLE – 75

  RUSSELL – 20

  VENN (I) – 57

   NO – 1

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COUNCIL RACE

  EVANS – 31

  HARRIS – 75

  SIMMONS – 42

  NO – 5

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