At 28.8 percent of elegible voters, Tuesday’s voter turnout in Wilkes County was good for a primary election, local election officials said. In Tuesday’s 2010 primary election, a strong turnout of Wilkes county voters gave clear decisions on two Wilkes County commission races, defeating one incumbent and setting up a showdown in November for the other seat.

In the District 4 Democratic primary, Clem Slaton defeated incumbent Jerry Stover by a vote of 237 to 157, a margin of 60 percent to 40 percent.

Charles Jackson won the County Commission District 3 Democratic primary over Joseph Anderson by a vote of 172 to 114, also a margin of 60 percent to 40 percent.

Jackson will face Republican Kerry McAvoy, who was unopposed, in November. McAvoy polled 86 votes in Tuesday’s primary.

Incumbent Chairman of the Wilkes County Board of Commissioners Sam Moore tallied 843 votes unopposed on the Democratic ballot, while Republican candidate for Commission Chairman David Reville garnered 489 votes. The two will meet in the November general election.

CHARLES JACKSON In statewide races, Wilkes County Republican voters chose Nathan Deal and Karen Handel as the top vote getters for governor. Wilkes Democratic voters largely cast their votes for former Governor Roy Barnes.

The turnout for Tuesday’s election was good for a primary at 28 percent, with 1,634 ballots cast out of 5,896 registered voters.

These results are unofficial. Supervisor of Elections Judge Thomas Charping will certify the official and complete results on Friday.
CLEM SLATON