It was the first day of early voting in the Augusta Commission District 1 runoff between Matt Aitken and Bill Fennoy. It’s an election that could change the racial balance on the Commission. That’s creating political interest, but no early voting rush. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

The District One Augusta Commission race is headed into a runoff between a white and black candidate, and it has people talking. WJBF News Channel 6’s Paige Tucker reports.

The White House says that Republican wins in two governors’ races were not referendums on the president.

Memory cards in seven voting machines were unintentionally left in Atlanta precincts Tuesday night, in a poll worker error that election officials say is not expected to affect the outcome of any race.

The race for the next mayor of Atlanta is headed for a runoff after no candidate in a crowded field received a majority of the vote.

For Augusta commission District 1, a runoff will be scheduled between Matt Aitken and William Fennoy.  They were the top vote getters Tuesday night.  For District 3, Joe Bowles is the winner.  In District 5, William Lockett edges out former commissioner Bobby Hankerson.  And in District 9, it’s a solid win for J.R. Hatney with just over 98 percent of the vote.  On the school board side, Patsy Scott will take over for her late husband, longtime educator and board member Joe Scott.  Steve Smith wins re-election as Marshal.

Tuesday is Election Day, in the Garden City, but Election Officials say the big winner appears to be apathy. Even with three contested Commission races on the ballot, turnout will struggle to top ten percent. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

Political watchdog Woody Merry is back in the political spotlight, holding a public forum this week to rail against city government. Merry is not running for any office, but did have a run-in with one of those running in the Augusta Commission District 1 race. So what, if any, impact will Merry have on the race. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola looks for the answer.

A U.S. Senate committee may consider President Obama’s nomination of State Senator Ed Tarver to be the U.S. Attorney for eastern Georgia this week. If he’s confirmed, Governor Sonny Perdue would have to order a special election to fill Tarver’s seat at the State Capitol.

People who aren’t happy with the Augusta Commission are getting a chance to vote for change…Advance voting for the November 3rd election began Monday in Augusta.

Here’s a look at who’s on the ballot for Augusta Commission seats in District 1, 3, and 5, for the election to be held on November 3rd, as well as the Richmond County Board of Education District 5 seat.

According to Lynn Bailey with the Richmond County Board of Elections, District 1 candidate Anthony Jones has withdrawn from this fall’s race for Augusta Commission. Click for press release.

Another Augusta Georgia Commissioner is not running for re-election.  District Five commissioner Calvin Holland says he has enjoyed his 4-years on the board, but it’s time to do some things that he and his wife had planned for retirement.  Holland endorses William “Bill” Lockett for the District 5 post.  District One’s Betty Beard announced last week she also is not running for re-election this fall.

Augusta Commissioner Betty Beard says she will not run for re-election. Beard says, after six years on the board, she wants to focus on other opportunities and give someone else the chance.

Southern Baptist leaders are asking members to put aside their squabbles over political and social issues when they meet next week in Kentucky. The two-day Southern Baptist Convention begins Tuesday in Louisville.