Johnson wins circuit clerk race in runoff election

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By Christa Jennings
Senior staff writer

It was a tight race with a low voter turnout Tuesday for the Republican Party primary runoff election, with only one office on Coosa County’s ballot.

In the end less than 13% of the county’s registered voters cast ballots as Jamey Johnson and Matthew Reams vied for the seat. Unofficial results reflect that Johnson won the race with 546 votes to Reams’ 513.

With a difference of only 33 votes, Johnson carried the race with 51.55% of the vote while Reams received 48.44% of the vote.

“Thank you to everyone in our county for electing me to serve you as your next circuit clerk,” Johnson stated. “I am deeply humbled by your support, and I want to assure you that I am going to work day and night to make sure that your concerns are heard and addressed and protected.”

“Whether or not you voted for me in this election, I want you to know that I am dedicated to serving you,” he added. “During these uncertain times, my highest commitment is to be your fair voice in Coosa County. Our county is one that has been built by our compassion toward each other, our commitment to decency and our faith in our neighbors and the judicial system.”

Any provisional ballots deemed countable and eligible by the Board of Registrars will be counted at 12 p.m. Tuesday. Following that count, the local party chairs will certify the elections for the state parties, and the county’s results will be official.

Across the state, only 28 counties had a primary runoff election Tuesday. Coosa County’s low turnout of 12.80% was still more than the state’s turnout of just 7.51% for those 28 counties. In Coosa County, only 1,060 ballots were cast out of its 8,279 registered voters.

Rockford, the county seat, had the highest turnout Tuesday with a voter turnout of 28.88%, followed by Equality with a 21.12% turnout. Goodwater had the lowest turnout with 2.23%, followed by Cottage Grove with 4.62%.

While it was a tight race at most ballot boxes, Stewartville managed to pull off a tie with each candidate receiving 58 votes.

Here is the breakdown of how Coosa County voted, precinct by precinct:

• Absentee:

  • Ballots: 41

  • Johnson: 23

  • Reams: 18

• Cottage Grove:

  • Ballots: 15

  • Turnout: 4.62%

  • Johnson: 14

  • Reams: 1

• Equality:

  • Ballots: 132

  • Turnout: 21.12%

  • Johnson: 80

  • Reams: 52

• Goodwater:

  • Ballots: 31

  • Turnout: 2.23%

  • Johnson: 21

  • Reams: 10

• Hanover:

  • Ballots: 68

  • Turnout: 20.42%

  • Johnson: 30

  • Reams: 38

• Kellyton:

  • Ballots: 107

  • Turnout: 9.52%

  • Johnson: 51

  • Reams: 56

• Marble Valley:

  • Ballots: 29

  • Turnout: 12.18%

  • Johnson: 22

  • Reams: 7

• Mt. Olive:

  • Ballots: 27

  • Turnout: 8.31%

  • Johnson: 14

  • Reams: 13

• Ray:

  • Ballots: 82

  • Turnout: 12.62%

  • Johnson: 59

  • Reams: 23

• Richville:

  • Ballots: 81

  • Turnout: 18.12%

  • Johnson: 25

  • Reams: 55

  • Overvotes: 1

• Rockford:

  • Ballots: 244

  • Turnout: 28.88%

  • Johnson: 112

  • Reams: 132

• Stewartville:

  • Ballots: 116

  • Turnout: 8.77%

  • Johnson: 58

  • Reams: 58

• Weogufka:

  • Ballots: 87

  • Turnout: 13.36%

  • Johnson: 37

  • Reams: 50

The one overvote indicates that an individual marks both candidates on their ballot, and as such resulted in a spoiled ballot that could not be counted.

The general election will be held November 5, but there are no Democratic candidates running for the circuit clerk office, meaning Johnson will run unopposed on the ballot.

Johnson will be sworn in to office in January to begin his 6-year term as circuit clerk. Following the election results, on Wednesday he began training with Circuit Clerk Anita Spivey during grand jury and will continue to train with her periodically before taking office in approximately nine months.

For more information on Tuesday’s runoff election and upcoming elections, or to check voter registration, visit the secretary of state’s website at www.alabamavotes.gov.