Michael Thurmond wins Democratic primary for CEO

In another key race, former DeKalb Schools Superintendent Michael Thurmond won the Democratic primary for CEO, earning 72 percent of the vote. Former DeKalb Commissioner Connie Stokes, who also served as a state legislator, came in second with 26 percent of the vote. Joe Bembry, a car towing business owner, placed third.

Thurmond will now face Republican Jack Lovelace in the November general election. Lovelace, the lone Republican running for the CEO seat, received 7,558 votes in the primary. The winner of the CEO race will oversee a $1.3 billion annual budget and more than 6,000 county employees.