While Floyd County did not have any runoffs to decide during Tuesday’s elections, a number of counties had voters going to the polls to determine who would advance to the general election on Nov. 6.

Johnny Moats edged out Mike Sullivan in a Republican runoff election for Polk County sheriff with a narrow four-vote victory.

Election officials automatically called for a recount, which will be conducted Thursday. However, with only one provisional ballot outstanding, the re-

count was not expected to change the outcome.

Provided Thursday’s recount maintains his victory, Moats will face Democratic incumbent Kelly McLendon in November. McLendon was unopposed on the Democratic ballot.

According to unofficial final numbers released Tuesday night, Moats won with 1,764 votes for 50.06 percent, while Sullivan had 1,760 votes for 49.94 percent.

Moats also led in the July 31 Republican primary balloting, which was a four-way race.

While not conceding Tuesday night, Sullivan congratulated Moats for his apparent victory. In a short statement to local media outlets Moats said, “I appreciate all the votes and the support. We’ve won one battle and we’ve got one more to go.”

In the Polk County District 2 commission race, former Polk County Commission member Ray Barber, who last served in 2008, handily defeated incumbent Ricky Clark. Barber took 1,957 votes (55.6 percent) to Clark’s 1,563 (44.4 percent).

In Bartow County, Republican Steve Taylor overtook Mike Bearden in the race for the sole county commissioner seat that is being vacated by Clarence Brown after 21 years.

Taylor pulled in 5,212 votes, for 60.49 percent, while Bearden finished with 3,405 with 100 percent of the precincts reporting. Taylor wins the office outright since there were no Democratic candidates running.

Bartow’s next tax commissioner was also decided on during Tuesday’s runoff elections as Steve Stewart defeated Vicki Beck.

Stewart reeled in 63.52 percent of the votes for a total of 5,374 while Beck received 3,086 votes.

In Chattooga County’s sheriff race, Trion police officer Mark Schrader defeated incumbent John Everett in Chattooga County’s Democratic primary run-off.

With 77 percent of the precincts reporting according to the Secretary of State website, Schrader received 2,383 votes, while Everett garnered 1,034.

Schrader will face Republican James R. Dawson in the Nov. 6 general election.

Newcomer Grant Walraven beat incumbent Brian Brannon in the race for the office of Gordon County Clerk of Superior Court. Walraven received 2,528 votes for 53.13 percent while Brannon received 2,230 votes for 46.87 percent. 

In the race for Gordon County Chief Magistrate Judge, Ricky Silvers will represent on the Republican ticket after beating incumbent John Leggett. 

Silvers won the race with 2,670 votes for 56.81 percent while Leggett received 2,030 votes for 43.19 percent. 

In the race for the seat of Gordon County Commissioner District Five, Kevin Cunningham took the win over Tom Bledsoe.

Cunningham received 2,382 of the votes at 53.55 percent, leaving Bledsoe behind with only 2,066 of the votes at 46.45 percent. 

The Calhoun Times, The Cedartown Standard and The Summerville News contributed to this report.