Former City Commissioner Freddie Handy and contractor Corey Johnson Sr. were the two top vote-getters Tuesday in the District 2 Augusta Commission race and will face each other in a Dec. 4 runoff.

Also heading to a runoff are Bernard Harper and Alvin Mason for the District 4 Commission seat, which will be a rematch between the two. They faced off for the seat a year ago in a special election to fill the term of Richard Colclough, who resigned to run for state office.

In District 2, Mr. Handy received 28 percent of the vote, or 565 votes, to Mr. Johnson's 25 percent, or 491 votes, with the other four candidates dividing up the remainder.

Mr. Handy, 64, the District 2 commissioner from 1996 to 1999 until his defeat by Marion Williams, said he felt good Tuesday night when the returns were in.

"Like my old friend, the late James Brown, I feel good to have the opportunity to serve Augusta once again if I'm successful in the runoff," he said Tuesday.

At age 34, this is Mr. Johnson's first run for public office, and he said he was astonished by his showing.

"I'm happy that people saw my passion, my commitment to want to serve and help the people in the city as a whole," he said.

Both men said they will resume campaigning today.

In Tuesday's District 4 voting, Mr. Mason led with 44 percent of the vote, while Mr. Harper, the incumbent, received 37 percent and newcomer Tanya Barnhill took 19 percent.

"With Tanya Barnhill's voters combined with my votes, it shows that 63 percent of the people want change in our district," Mr. Mason said Tuesday night. "It's obvious that (Mr. Harper's) seat is vulnerable."

Ms. Barnhill agreed.

"They want to see something different," she said of voters.

Mr. Harper said he'll have to fight for the 402 people who voted for Ms. Barnhill, and getting them back to the polls will be key.

"We'll have to change our strategy," he said.

The low voter turnout disappointed him, Mr. Harper said. Only one person cast a vote from precinct 407 at McDuffie Woods Community Center.

"People need to realize that local elections have real impact on your life," he said. "Folks need to come to that realization."