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Billy Powell wins new term on Hall commission
0716HallGOP
Marinel Wood, of Gainesville teases District 2 County Commissioner Billy Powell Tuesday about the election results while Steve Gilliam, center, a lawyer from Gainesville, watches the screen for updates at the Oaks Academy Business Center. - photo by SARA GUEVARA
Billy Powell beat opponent Chris Masters with a comfortable 60.2 percent of the vote to hold on to his Hall County Board of Commissioners District 2 seat in Tuesday's primary.

"We've got four more years," Powell said. "I just can't say how much I appreciate everyone's help and support."

Powell was in the lobby of Academy Oak Business Center celebrating the election results after polls closed Tuesday with friends, family and supporters.

Powell's rival was a political newcomer and the 33-year-old publisher of Lake Lanier Community Magazine.

Powell was elected in 2004 and said he and the other current commissioners have worked well together over the last few years.

Commission Chairman Tom Oliver, who ran unopposed for re-election, was at Powell's celebration when he announced his victory.

"Tom, it looks like we got a pretty good team back in action," Powell said to Oliver.

But Powell said he is disappointed that one team member, District 4 Commissioner Deborah Mack, will not be back again for another term.

"We were all 100 percent behind Ms. Mack," Powell said. "She has done so much for the county, so much for her district and I'm going to miss Deborah tremendously."

He said though he enjoyed working with Mack, he is looking forward to working with Ashley Bell, who won the District 4 seat.

"He's a fine young man and he's community-oriented," Powell said.

Though Masters lost the race with 39.8 percent of the vote, he said he was "pretty happy with the results."

"It does show that there are some people that were unhappy with the county commission," Masters said.

Masters said he does not have any future plans to run for any other offices, but said he will continue to be involved with the Hall County GOP and the Hall County Young Republicans.

"Bottom line is I just really enjoyed running this campaign. I had a great time with it and I love the political process - its just great to be a part of it," Masters said.

Powell said he was helped by people in the community from a "grassroots level" and the support of friends and family.

Powell's wife Helen Powell sad they would put up signs and campaign whenever they could, and their kids would wear Powell's campaign T-shirts.

"I'm happy the citizen's of Hall County get good representation," Helen Powell said.