Dacula Votes Despite Coronavirus, Elects Williams To City Council

DACULA, GEORGIA — Sean Williams won a seat on Dacula’s city council in a special election held on March 24 — the same day Georgia’s presidential primary election would have been held if the state hadn’t postponed it because of the coronavirus outbreak.

“I felt if we waited longer, there would be more risk,” elections supervisor Heather Coggins said last month to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I didn’t want to put the elderly population at risk. I thought it was in the best interest of the city to move forward.” Masks and hand sanitizers were made available at the polling station.

Because Dacula used paper ballots, it didn’t need the secretary of state’s permission to hold its election. When asked about Dacula’s election by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a representative of the secretary of state’s office declined to comment.

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Williams, an information-security officer, won with 49 out of 96 votes cast. Adrienne Johnson was second with 28 votes, and Dave Slotter was third with 15 votes. Five ballots were declared void. Because no provisional votes were cast, the City of Dacula certified the results on Monday. The results will become part of the city’s permanent record at its April 2 city council meeting.

The election was held to replace Hubert Wells, who had been reelected in November but who moved before he could be sworn in.

“The new council member should be sworn in during the May meeting provided we can meet in person,” Coggins said Thursday via email.

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