Primary runoffs Tuesday were to decide five Republican races in Hall County, with only one of those races still to be settled on the November ballot.

Gainesville attorney and state Rep. Doug Collins held a solid lead over longtime radio talk-show host Martha Zoller in the 9th District U.S. House race with almost half of the votes counted. The Associated Press has called the race for Collins.

The winner faces Democrat Jody Cooley in November.

With 97 percent of the votes counted in Hall County, Dick Mecum has won the GOP nod for the chairman's post on the county Board of Commissioners, unseating two-term incumbent Tom Oliver.

Gerald Couch bested Jeff Strickland for county sheriff in the race to replace retiring incumbent Steve Cronic.

Darla Edens won the race for tax commissioner and Patty Walters Laine for probate judge.

There are no Democrats qualified for the Nov. 6 ballot in any of the Hall County races.

Here are the latest results in each contested runoff:

U.S. House, 9th District

Doug Collins 54.5 percent
Martha Zoller 45.5 percent

Hall County
Board of Commissioners Chairman

Dick Mecum 69.3 percent
Tom Oliver 30.7 percent

Sheriff

Gerald Couch 55.5 percent
Jeff Strickland 44.5 percent

Tax Commissioner

Darla Eden 52.5 percent
Kent Henderson 47.5 percent

Probate Judge

Brook Davidson 42.1 percent
Patty Walters Laine 57.9 percent