Most local races in Gainesville area uncontested

GAINESVILLE - Few local contested races will be on the ballot when northeast Georgians go to the polls on Tuesday.

By and large, the outcome of the summer primaries was tantamount to election... because most of the candidates who won their primary races, have no opposition in the General Election.

In the immediate Gainesville area, only Hall, Gwinnett, Barrow, White, Lumpkin and Forsyth counties have contested local races... and even in those counties only one or two of them at most. There are a number of state legislative races and the 10th and 7th district congressional races which are contested but those involve all or parts of more than one county.

Judicial races - both local and state - will be on the ballot, as well. They are classified as "non-partisan" and several of those, especially at the state level, are contested.

Then there are the local questions that will be on the ballot in various counties, such as Hall, where voters will be asked to decide whether to mandate putting payment of county property taxes on a two-installment plan. City of Gainesville voters are being asked whether the age for complete exemption from school taxes should be lowered from 72 to 70.

A number of state questions are also to be voted on and in Flowery Branch, a special election will be held for mayor.

PUTTING GAINESVILLE ON THE POLITICAL MAP

Not much is being said about it and it has not been an issue in the campaigns, but should Nathan Deal win the governor's race on Tuesday and Casey Cagle is re-elected Lt. Governor, it will be the first time in the state's history the offices are occupied by people from one city.

Both are Republicans and both are from Gainesville. Cagle is seeking his second term in the number two post. This is Deal's first try for Governor. Georgia has had a Lt. Governor since 1947 and eleven men have held the post since then.

In addition, one of the candidates for School Superintendent, John Barge, has Gainesville connections. He's a former principal at Chestatee High School.