Runoff rundown: Boyce defeats Lee, Sutton loses, and Vernon Jones is a winner!

We need to talk about turning out for elections, people

By Thomas Wheatley Wednesday July 27, 2016 10:54 AM EDT

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Last night, while millions of people listened to former President Bill Clinton take a very long walk down memory lane, elected officials and political hopefuls across metro Atlanta learned whether their political careers were beginning — some face challengers in November — or ending. Most runoff races were dec?ided by a very small number of people. The total turnout in Fulton: 2.7 percent. Here’s a brief rundown of key races:

Cobb County voters [http://www.mdjonline.com/news/challenger-outpolls-lee-by-a-nearlytomargin/article_d91deab6-539f-11e6-9534-2f30b719eaf6.html|overwhelmingly picked] Republican Mike Boyce, a retired Marine colonel who’s never served in political office, over Cobb County Chairman Tim Lee, who rammed through a deal to build a new Atlanta Braves stadium. No Democrats qualified so only Boyce’s name will appear on the November ballot.

Adios, DeKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton! The incumbent’s desperate mailers were not enough to fend off Steve Bradshaw. Bradshaw received 75 percent of the vote. He faces Republican Willie Willis in November.

Fulton County Sheriff Ted Jackson defeated Richard Lankford, a former sheriff who also ran against the incumbent in 2012. He faces Republican Ben Cowart in November.

Vernon Jones is one step closer to the Gold Dome with last night’s win to serve in the state House of Representatives. The flamboyant former DeKalb County CEO previously ran for U.S. Senate, Congress, and the DeKalb sheriff post.

David Dreyer, a Grant Park lawyer, ended a heated (and expensive) campaign with a defeat over former labor leader Janine Brown to succeed state Rep. Margaret Kaiser, D-Atlanta.

Keith Gammage handily defeated Clint Rucker to become Fulton’s next solicitor-general. No Republican qualified for the race.