How candidates, citizens feel about Catoosa County runoffs, turnout

RINGGOLD, Ga. (WDEF) – Republicans in Catoosa County are continuing to react to Tuesday’s election results in North Georgia.

The lead up to those elections in Catoosa County was filled with legal drama, as the Catoosa County Republican Party attempted to keep four candidates off of the ballot arguing they weren’t representing their party.

However, after legal rulings allowed those four candidates to be on the ballot, they all either won or are going to a runoff.

Now, voters will have to return to the polls to decide two races, as candidates try to figure out why there was only a 17 percent voter turnout rate.

County Chairman Larry Black and former Chairman Steven Henry, both targeted by the Catoosa GOP to be kept off the ballot, are now squaring off in a runoff to be the party’s nominee for that position.

Commissioner Vanita Hullander, also targeted by the party, also is heading to a runoff for District 3 against Richard Tharpe.

Black said, “At no time does me or any other candidate agree that a group of 16 people can decide what the 70,000 Catoosa County residents what’s best for them.”

Hullander said, “I think it spoke volumes you know from the public that they are behind us.”

Considering that nearly 83% of all voters across Catoosa County elected not to vote in this election, we went around and asked, why did most voters here choose not to participate in this election?

Presley Piatt said that as a new voter, she feels out of the loop.

She said, “I saw some people with some T-Shirts and everything, but honestly I don’t think there’s enough information of stuff to help educate me and make me feel like I’m making a good, safe vote.”

Candidates say the lack of turnout is not the best sign for local government.

Henry said, “The last time I ran for chair in 2020 I think I got over 20,000 votes, and today what did we get, 6,000 people voted period? I don’t know how we educate people on how important local government is, but we have to do a better job of that.”

Black said, “We have to figure out a better way to appeal to the younger generation and make it to where they feel like it’s very important in everything else that they come out and vote.”

Piatt had a suggestion for elected officials.

Piatt said, “I mean I love a good little drama, but you know in politics I want things to be running smoothly like we’ll save the drama for the Kardashians. I want some entertainment but not that kind of entertainment. I want to see some goodness in people, praise the Lord.”

The Catoosa County Republican Party has not commented on last night’s county elections.

The runoff election for these races is on Tuesday, June 18.

There will be a week of early voting the full week before starting on Monday, June 10.