Runoffs Avoided in Two Contested Races

Two Cherokee County races with more than two candidates running averted runoffs Tuesday as the incumbents won a majority of the vote, according to returns.

Incumbent Tax Commissioner Sonya Little, who has served as tax commissioner since David Fields resigned in February 2011, will stay on the job after defeating Kenny Phelps and Robert Wade Wilkie.

Little received 20,576 votes, or 58.2% of the vote. Phelps finished with 8,480 voters, 24 percent of the total, and Wilkie had 6,283 or 17.18 percent.

State Rep. Mandi Ballinger (R-Canton) fended off three challengers. Ballinger garnered 4,090 votes or 52.46 percent of the vote. Alan Shinall finished second, with 2,031 or 26.5 percent of the vote. Dean Sheridan had 892 votes, 11.44 percent of the vote, and Harold Welchel received 784 votes, 10.06 percent of the vote.