Democrat Al J. Whitney and Republican Ernie Coleman will be heading to November’s election for a new Beaufort County Sheriff.

The vote tallies came in quickly after polls closed at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. A total of 6,605 votes were cast throughout the county; Of the 21 precincts, the highest turnout was in Belhaven, with a total of 364 votes.

In the Democratic race, Whitney came out on top with 2,274 votes, as compared with Russell Davenport’s 1,631. For the Republicans, Coleman received 1,550 votes, while Harry Meredith took in 1,095. The Democratic vote outnumbered the Republican vote 3,905 to 2,645.

According to Board of Elections member John Tate, the early voting/absentee voting totals were indicative of how the rest of the county would vote. A total of 2,209 votes came in through early One-Stop Voting and absentee ballots, a numbering slightly less than those in the first primary.

A second primary was required as no single candidate — Republican or Democrat — captured 40 percent of the vote in the first primary on May 6. In a field of five Democrats and four Republicans, Democrats Russell Davenport and Al Whitney, and Republicans Ernie Coleman and Harry Meredith were the top vote-getters. With Tuesday’s second primary results, Coleman and Whitney will continue their campaigns for November’s election.

According to Coleman, his campaign tactics are what earned him the win.

“The last year and a half I’ve run a clean and Christian conservative campaign. I stuck it out. I’d like to thank all the voters for coming out and voting for me and I’m proud of the county for seeing through all the dirty politics. I’m proud of myself, we ran it to the end and we won it,” Coleman said. “I’m ready for November. I know it will be intense, but it will be a clean race. I know Mr. Whitney and he runs a clean campaign like I do.”

The results will not be official until next Tuesday’s canvassing by the Board of Elections.

 

Polls are closed. These are unofficial results until the canvas next Tuesday.

All precincts have reported.

Democrat

Russell Davenport: 1,631

Al J. Whitney: 2,274

Republican

Ernie Coleman: 1,550

Harry Meredith: 1,095

TOTAL VOTES: 6,605