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Political newcomer Jeff Stowe easily beat incumbent commissioner Ashley Bell by double-digit percentage points in Tuesday's Republican primary to take the District 4 seat on the Hall Board of Commissioners.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Billy Powell defeated Eugene Moon, a Hall County businessman and tea party favorite, by a narrow margin to retain his District 2 seat.
The District 4 results were surprising. In fundraising, Bell raised nearly $44,000 in campaign contributions in 2012, according to the latest available numbers. That was four times that of Stowe.
Still, Stowe was able to strike a chord with voters that may have come down to party loyalty.
The incumbent Bell, who first won as a Democrat in 2008, switched party affiliations at the end of 2010.
Even Stowe admitted he didn’t expect to win by so much.
“Surprised is an understatement,” he said of his reaction to the results. “I was absolutely shocked.”
Stowe anticipated the race to come down to a couple hundred votes rather than the 16-percentage-point smackdown.
With no Democratic candidates in the race, Stowe take the seat when Bell’s term ends in January.
Bell promised to offer his assistance in the transition.
Once in office, Stowe said his first goal will be to build a relationship with the members of the county commission, then work to mend relationships with the county’s municipal governments.
In the District 2 race, Powell beat Moon by about 3 percentage points, making him the only incumbent commissioner to fare so well in this primary.
“Even with the narrow margin, it’s still an honor and a humbling experience to be re-elected,” Powell said.
Powell ran on his experience and accomplishments in bringing parks to his district and helping facilitate the sale of the county’s old jail to the city of Gainesville.
Powell said that experience would provide stability for the county moving ahead, which is good for attracting business.
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