Syfan, Diaz win BOE races

GAINESVILLE - Just over 1,000 voters out of nearly 11,000 registered decided two Gainesville board of education seats and two non binding referendums on electing a mayor and board of education chairman Tuesday.

Hall County's elections director called that disappointing.

"We had predicted a 25 percent turnout but ended up with 10.84 percent," Charlotte Sosebee Hunter said.

Sosebee-Hunter while the turnout was low it did decide Ward One and Ward Four Board of Education posts; Voters chose incumbent David Syfan over challenger Kellie Weeks 282-134 and Delores Diaz over Richard Lacey 75-64 in final but unofficial returns.

Voters decided they want to elect the mayor but not the school board chairman in the two referendums.

542 voters cast yes ballots for an elected Gainesville mayor; there were 448 no votes. There were 485 yes votes for an elected Board of Education chairman, with 505 no votes.
For years those posts have rotated on city council and the school board.

www.hallcounty.org

http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/11/224478