Tuesday’s primaries have left one incumbentLincoln County supervisor defeated and another on the ropes afterhaving come in second place in a race headed for a runoff.

    In the District Five supervisor race, voters professed their wantfor change in the district as they cast 52.32 percent of theirvotes for Dudley Nations, according to complete but unofficialtotals. Incumbent supervisor Gary Walker had 38.91 percent andBenjie Smith received 8.77 percent.

    “I’m very much excited,” Nations said of the outright nominationvictory. “It’s been a tiring summer going door to door. The peoplehave been so accepting of me, and they took it to the polls(Tuesday) and we had a good turnout. And I pray they’ll continue tosupport me through November.”

    Nations will go on to face Republican primary winner Carroll BruceSmith in the general election. Smith defeated Gary Covington in theGOP primary.

    Walker accepted the defeat and wished the best to Nations as heundertakes the position.

    “I’m disappointed there isn’t going to be a runoff,” Walker said.”He [Nations] is a good man, and I think he’ll make a goodsupervisor in the next four years.

    “I think we ran a clean race, and I appreciate him for that,”Walker contiued. “I just want to say to everybody that I seriouslyappreciate all the friends I’ve made in the past 12 years servingthe county.”

    Change may be in the air in District Four, too, as candidate EddieBrown came out ahead of incumbent supervisor Doug Moak in thevoting with 43.43 percent.

    Moak received 35.91 percent of the vote, and the two will face eachother again in the runoff. Charlie Davis, who came out with 21percent of the vote, was knocked out of the race.

    Moak expressed that he hopes the voters look at the experiencedifferences between himself and Brown when they participate in therunoff, which will decide who takes the office.

    “We’re glad we made the runoff,” Moak said. “We hope people look atthe qualifications of the candidates and make the right decision.We hope there is a good turnout.”

    Brown, however, thinks change is in the air.

    “I’m very pleased with how the election turned out,” he said. “Ibelieve the people are ready for a change in District Four. I’mthankful for the votes I got and the people who cast them for me.Hopefully, I can get [Charlie] Davis’ votes to come my way at therunoff.”

    In District Two, incumbent supervisor Bobby Watts will face offagainst Jimmy Diamond for the seat.

    The final numbers from the primary had Watts receiving 44.50percent of the vote to Diamond’s 34.29 percent. Don Smith, theother candidate in the race, was defeated with 21.07 percent of thevote.

    Going into a runoff is nothing new for Watts. Each primary he hasraced in has sent him into the runoff.

    “Always had to do a runoff,” he said. “I’ll do the very best I canto win, and I’m sure (Diamond) will, too. And whoever wins will winand we’ll be friends and go on. That’s the way I want it.”

    Diamond could not be reached for comment.

    In other supervisor contests, incumbent the Rev. Jerry Wilson ranunopposed in Democratic primary for supervisor District One. Hewill face the unopposed Republican candidate David Bowers inNovember.

    Nolan Earl Williamson, the supervisor District Three incumbent, ranunopposed in the Democratic primary and will face the unopposedRepublican candidate Howard Williams.

    In another “super” position, incumbent Lincoln County SchoolDistrict Superintendent Terry Brister will have a runoff againstDonald Case.

    Tuesday, Brister received 49.56 percent of the votes and Caseacquired 29.06 percent, in a four-candidate field. Whoever wins therunoff will the next superintendent.

    While Donald Case could not be reached for comment, Brister isrelieved he did not get defeated altogether in the primary.However, he is somewhat disappointed about the results.

    “I’m all right but not happy,” he said. “I would’ve been elated ifwe made it to November the first go round, but we’ll saddle up andgo at it again.”