By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
One of two Morgan County Commission races in Tuesday's primary election resulted in a win for incumbent Jeff Clark while the other was forced into a July 18 runoff between incumbent Richard Lyons and challenger Ken Livingston.
Clark had little trouble getting by his challenger, Decatur attorney Dwight M. Jett Jr. in the Republican race for District 1. Complete but unofficial results show he polled 9,986 votes, or 67.2 percent, while Jett received 4,872, or 32.7 percent.
Clark faces Democrat Murphy Brown in the November general election. Brown had no opposition in the primary.
In a three-man race for District 2, Lyons was the leader with 5,798 votes, or 42.2 percent. Livingston received 5,081 votes, or 37 percent and James Ray Bowling came in third with 2,841 votes, or 20 percent.
"We ran a positive campaign based on our record of service and I want to thank the people of Morgan County for coming out to vote," Clark said. "I'm thankful for every vote I received and look forward to the upcoming weeks of campaigning leading up to the November election."
"I'm disappointed that I didn't win but I'm thankful to be where I am," Lyons said. "I'll be out working tomorrow and I'll get with my volunteers and we'll work out a campaign plan for the six weeks leading up to the runoff. I want to thank all of my supporters and encourage them to go back to the polls and vote on July 18."
Livingston said he was proud to be in the runoff.
"I think I have a good chance to win if my supporters will go back to the polls and vote on July 18," he said.