Local News

Related Photos

  • Ronald Ownby, right, congratulates Mike Babb after learning Babb was re-elected chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday. (Misty Watson/The Daily Citizen)

    election results1.jpg

Related Links

Discussion

August 1, 2012

Babb wins fourth term as chairman, beats Ownby

Jamie Jones jamiejones@daltoncitizen.com

Precinct by precinct results

Mike Babb will return for a fourth, and what he says could be his final, term as chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners.

Babb defeated former Whitfield County Fire Department employee Ronald Ownby with 4,967 votes (53.34 percent) to 4,345 votes (46.66 percent) in the Republican primary on Tuesday. There are no Democrats in the general election, so Babb is expected to serve as board chairman for another four-year term. Results are unofficial until certified by the state.

“It looks like I’m on for another four years,” Babb said. “It’s going to be a tough four years. There are a lot of changes going on from the LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) negotiations and the overall economy. It’s going to be tough times. I know that. I’m prepared for it and we’ll move forward. I’ve got some experience under my belt and I hope I can help the county over the next four years.”

Babb served as board chairman from 1996 to 2004. He decided not to run for re-election at the end of his second term, but was elected to the board again in 2008. Commissioners by state law are limited to three consecutive terms of four years at a time.

Ownby had never run for political office. Just this year he retired from the county fire department after 34 years, with eight of those as a volunteer. He started full time as a dispatcher and worked his way up to assistant fire chief, a position he held for some 20 years.

Ownby could not immediately be reached for comment late Tuesday night.

Babb said he wasn’t surprised by the close vote.

“He’s well known through the community,” Babb said. “He was the assistant chief for 20 years. He’s well liked. All of the firemen like him and that’s 10 stations across the county, so I’ve always thought it was going to be a tough race to run and that’s what it turned out to be. It was back and forth there for a while. I was prepared to win or lose.”

Although Babb has publicly stated this may be his last term as board chairman, he didn’t completely rule out a fifth term.

“You never know what the future holds,” Babb said. “We’ll just take one step at a time. In four years I’ll be 67. We have some very tough decisions to make as a board. Politically, I might not be able to run again.”

Text Only
Local News

AP Video
Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k Hagel Urges Cadets to End Scourge of Sex Assault Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse American Held in Grisly Czech Murders Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day' Jersey Shore Open for Business Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com