UPDATED: DEKALB COUNTY: Landslide victories for Commissioner Larry Johnson, Judge Courtney Johnson

By Valerie J. Morgan

DeKalb County voters overwhelmingly re-elected District 3 Board of Commissioner Larry Johnson and Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson to offices on May 22. The two incumbents, who are unrelated, commanded landslide victories in their races, early results showed.   

 Johnson, who has served 16 years on the Board of Commissioners, received 80.53% (16,704 votes) as he celebrated turning 50 on election night.  Challenger Felton Wright, a retired AT&T communications employee running for the first time, received 19.47% (4,039 votes). 

Judge Johnson earned a third term with 64.67% (55,028 votes).  Challenger Attorney Genet Hopewell garnered 35.14 % (29,902 votes). 

DeKalb Commissioner Gregory Adams is headed for a runoff against Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, vice president of business development for the Atlanta Daily World, for the District 7 seat.  The super district represents the eastern portion of DeKalb County.  

Adams received 44.74% (18,209). Cochran-Johnson garnered 41.69 (16,961). 

Adams and Cochran-Johnson were the two top vote-getters in a four-way race. Since neither received more than 50 percent of the vote, they will face one anther in the July 24 runoff. 

“We are thrilled to have received the most votes in this election,” said Adams. “As we head into the runoff, DeKalb voter should know that my record is clear: when it comes for fighting for DeKalb, no one will work and fight harder. In just a little over a year, we have moved DeKalb forward by investing in people and neighborhoods every single day. I’ll continue that work in my next term.” 

In the hotly-contested races for DeKalb School Board seats, Incumbent M. Orson barely held an edge on his opponent, Candice D. Kinley. Orson received 50.65% (4,929) votes. Candice D. Kinley came in with 49.08%(4,776).

Voters chose Diijon DaCosta to fill the Board of Education, District 6 seat. The seat was vacated by former board chair Melvin Johnson. 

DaCosta defeated Lance Hammonds, earning 55.29 percent (6,152) of the vote. Hammonds received 44.48 percent (4,949). 

Two veteran incumbent state legislators lost their seats on election night. State Rep. Earnest “Coach” Williams, House District 87, lost to Viola Davis, a government watchdog. State Rep. Howard Mosby, District 83, lost to Becky Evans.

Key Races in DeKalb County

BOC, District 3, Democrat

Larry Johnson (I), 80.53% (16,704

Felton Wright, 19.47 % (4,039)

BOC, District 7, Democrat 

Gregory Adams (I) 44.74% (18,209)

Lorraine Cochran-Johnson 41.69 (16,961)

John Tolbert, Jr. 7.9% (3215)

Ed Williams 5.66% (2303)

Board of Education, District 2

Candice D. Kinley, 49.08% (4776)

Marshall Orson (I)  50.65% (4,929)               

Board of Education, District 6

Diijon DaCosta, 55.29%   (6,152) 

Lance Hammonds, 44.48% (4,949)

State Senate 41, Democrat

Steve Henson (I) 50.42 % 6918

Sabrina McKenzie   49.58% 6,803

State Senate 40

Incumbent Fran Millar received 7,860 votes on Tuesday in the uncontested Republican primary.  In November, Millar will face Sally Harrell, Democrat, who received 76.19% (7484). Harrell defeated Tamara Johnson-Shealey, who garnered 32.81% (3655 votes) in the Democratic Primary.

State Senate 43, Democrat

Tonya P. Anderson 84.44% (13,080)*

Joel Thibodeaux 15.56% (2,410)*

* Totals for the three counties in District 43. 

State Senate 55

Incumbent Gloria Butler received 16,372votes in the uncontested Democratic primary. She will face Republican Annette Davis Jackson in the Nov. 6 General Election.  Jackson, who was also uncontested in the Republican primary, received 3,130 votes.  

State House 83, Democrat

Becky Evans, 64.61% (5,596)   

Howard Mosby (I), 35.39%  (3,065)

State House 86, Democrat

Michele Henson (I), 71.57% (3,983)

Jocelyn C. O’Neil, 28.43% (1,582)  

State House 87, Democrat

Viola Davis, 56% (3,536). 

Earnest “Coach” Williams, (I), 44% (2,778 )

State House 90

Incumbent Pam Stephenson won the Democratic primary, soundly defeating Gregory Shealey. Stephenson received 73.73% (5,437 votes), while Shealey received 26.27% (1,937 votes). Stephenson will face Republican Takosha Swan in the Nov. 6 General Election. Swan received 1,253 votes on election night. 

State House 94, Democrat

Karen Bennett (I), 79.30%  (4,355)

L. Dean Heard, 20.70% (1,137)

Superior Court, Stone Mountain to replace Judge Coursey

LaTisha Dear-Jackson and Tunde Akinyele are headed for a runoff, since no candidate in the six-way race received more than 50 percent of the vote on Tuesday.

Tunde Akinyele 22.43% (18,845)

Gina Bernard 16.79 (14,102)%

Roderick Bridges 6.15% (5,166)

Kirby Clements Jr. 7. 33% (6,154)

LaTisha Dear-Jackson,  37.59% (31,582)

Nicholas Smith, 9.44% (7,927)

Superior Court Judge

Genet Hopewell, 35.14%  (29,902) 

Courtney Johnson (I), 64.67% (55,028)