Chattooga County voters spoke in the Republican Runoff Election held on Tuesday and voted for political newcomer Blake Elsberry as the Republican nominee for Chattooga County Sole Commissioner.  In the Probate Judge’s race, Gary Woods took the nod from voters.

Elsberry, who works in the medical field, beat a three-term incumbent to secure the nomination.  Sole Commissioner Jason Winters had poured money and effort into the campaign after narrowly losing to Elsberry in the June Primary by just two votes.  The numbers were quite different on Tuesday with Elsberry taking about 60% of the vote to Winters’ 40%.   Elsberry will now face Democratic nominee Jimmy Holbrook in the General Election in November.

Voters chose Gary Woods over former Probate Office worker Teresa Pope for the Republican nomination for Probate Judge.  Woods, an employee of Mt. Vernon Mills in Trion bested Pope with 66% of the vote to Pope’s 34%, taking every precinct in the race.  Woods will now face Independent candidate Holley Strawn-Gilliland in November.