Ginn wins GOP District 47 race

The incumbent senator defeated Republican challenger Danny Yearwood from Barrow County 13,667 to 6,413 votes (68 to 32 percent) Tuesday. He carried Madison County 4,250 to 1,480 (74.2 to 25.8 percent).

Ginn will now face Democratic challenger Tim Riley in the November general election.

None of the primaries for local House seats were contested. However, Republican incumbents Alan Powell and Tom McCall will both face opposition from Democrats in November. Mary Beth Focer will challenge Powell and David Vogel will face McCall.

In other contested state races, Madison County voters preferred incumbent district 3 public service commission representative Chuck Eaton to Matt Reid 3,243 to 2,020 (61.6 to 38.4 percent). They also voted for incumbent public service commission district 3 representative Stan Wise over Pam Davidson 3,072 to 2,136 (59 to 41 percent).

Voters from both parties were asked to field questions on a variety of issues. None of the votes are binding. They are simply questions to gauge public opinion. On the Republican side, voters were evenly split on whether they favor casino gambling in Georgia to fund education, with 3,015 voting “Yes” and 2,948 saying “No.”

Over 84 percent of Republicans favor a $100 gift cap from lobbyists to legislators. Voters agree 71 to 28 percent that military personnel under 21 should be able to obtain a Georgia weapons permit. Republicans rejected by a 55.5 to 44.5 percent margin a proposal to require voters to register with their party of preference 30 days prior to primaries. Voters supported a ballot question about outlawing abortion. The question stated that the right to life begins at “his or her earliest biological beginning.” Madison County Republicans favored the proposal 3,900 to 1,682 (69.9 to 30.1 percent).

Democratic voters voted “No” — 403 to 235 — on a proposal to allow the state to override local school board decisions on the creation of charter schools. They voted overwhelmingly in favor of banning unlimited gifts to legislators from lobbyists, 454 to 183. They voter in favor of a tax credit for home energy costs, 489 to 152. And they voted in favor of reducing taxes on “Made in Georgia” products, 549 to 102.