So far about 2,841 or 2.3% of active Richmond County voters have cast ballots in the May 21 election and general primary.
Augusta early voting dipped Friday with 171 voting, after four days of heavy daily turnout.
The primary includes Democratic contests for sheriff and district attorney. The nonpartisan election has races for five Augusta commission seats, a superior court judgeship and a referendum on giving Augusta’s mayor a vote on all commission business.
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Monday through Thursday saw more than 400 vote per day at each of four advance voting sites. As of Friday, 86% of them selected a Democratic ballot. Georgia has no party registration system, but a voter’s choice of ballot goes into their voting record.
Advance voting goes on weekdays through May 17. Saturday voting will be held this Saturday, May 11, and Sunday voting will be held May 12.
As of Friday, only 10 of approximately 23 local candidates and political action committees had filed fundraising reports that were due within a five-day grace period of April 30. Two who filed, Coroner Mark Bowen and Tax Commissioner Tederell Chris Johnson, are unopposed for reelection.
Among those that filed by Friday, District 7 commission candidate Marshall Bedder reported he has raised $86,643.64, spent $55,961.60 and had $30,682.04 on hand as of April 30. Bedder, a VA physician, and office manager Tina Slendak are running for the commission seat held by Sean Frantom, who is term-limited.
Clarence “Bo” Johnson, one of two challengers in the Democratic primary to Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree, reported he has raised $29,575 in the contest for sheriff. Johnson had spent $18,560.49 and has $11,014.51 on hand. Roundtree and Johnson are in a three-way primary with Eugene “Gino Rock” Brantley for the Democratic nomination for sheriff.
Dentist Joidaz Gaines, one of two challengers to District 3 Commissioner Catherine Smith McKnight, filed an affidavit stating he will not raise or spend more than $2,500 in the race. The third candidate in the nonpartisan election for District 3 is retired educator Carol Yancy.
In the three-way nonpartisan race to replace Superior Court Judge Daniel J. Craig, candidate Matt Matson is leading in fundraising.
Judge candidate Charles H.S. Lyons III filed the April 30 report on Feb. 7, stating he had not raised or spent any funds.
Matson reported he has raised $59,126 in the contest for judge. He’s spent $39,109.86 and had $20,016.14 on hand.
Candidate Willie Saunders, a juvenile court judge, reported $30,918.71 in contributions so far, $25,231.73 in spending and $5,686.98 on hand.
Augusta Circuit District Attorney Jared Williams reported raising $140,387.71 to to date, spending $67,795.99 and had $72,591.72 on hand.
Attorney Amber Brantley, who is challenging Williams for the top prosecutor’s post, reported raising $68,937.50 to date, spending $68,242.77 and had $694.73 on hand.
Early voting tallies for Friday included 42 Friday at the Beazley Room of Augusta Municipal Building, 11 at the Charles Evans Community Center, 65 at Robert Howard Community Center at Diamond Lakes Regional Park and 53 at Warren Road Community Center.
