With all precincts counted in today's runoff voting, Matt Aitken has defeated William Fennoy in the District 1 race for Augusta City Commission.
With all precincts counted, Mr. Aitken had 1,657 votes to Mr. Fennoy's 1,427.
Mr. Fennoy told supporters tonight he was proud of the race he ran, but added, "The people have spoken."
As in the general election, when Mr. Aitken surpassed expectations, turnout was once again the key. In the two largest white precincts, 101 and 107, voter turnout was 35 percent and 39 percent, respectively. In the two largest black precincts, 103 and 104, turnout was 22 and 23 percent, respectively.
Precinct 107 (Julian Smith Casino) provided the cushion that Mr. Aitken needed to pull what has to be considered a monumental upset in a district where black registered voters outnumber their white counterparts 2 to 1. In the general election, Mr. Aitken won the precinct by a net difference of 268 votes against Mr. Fennoy. Tonight, he increased the margin by 169 votes.
Mr. Aitken won the election by 230 votes, though the totals still have to be certified.
He also won seven precincts in the runoff, one more than his total in the general election on Nov. 3.
| POLLING PLACE | Aitken | Fennoy |
| 101 Asbury United Methodist Church, 1305 Troupe St. | 350 | 24 |
| 102 Crawford Avenue Baptist Church, 507 Crawford Ave. | 137 | 62 |
| 103 Dyess Park, 902 James Brown Blvd. | 27 | 264 |
| 104 Eastview Recreation Center, 644 Aiken Ave. | 87 | 509 |
| 105 Second Mount Moriah Church, 1404 Brown St. | 2 | 88 |
| 106 Julian Smith Casino, 2200 Broad St. | 91 | 47 |
| 107 Julian Smith Casino, 2200 Broad St. | 538 | 101 |
| 108 Covenant Presbyterian Church, 3131 Walton Way | 23 | 67 |
| 109 May Park, 708 Fourth St. | 56 | 25 |
| 110 Peabody Apartments, 1452 Walton Way | 30 | 30 |
| 111 Paine College, Gilbert Lambuth Chapel, 1235 Druid Park Ave. | 105 | 58 |
| 112 St. John Towers, 724 Greene St. | 153 | 51 |
| 113 May Park, 708 Fourth St. | 58 | 101 |
| TOTALS | 1657 | 1427 |
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
A bit premature...eastview rec has not reported and it has the largest number of registered voters of any precinct and is heavily black. don't do an al gore.
done deal!!!!
A monumental event that was carefully orchestrated by the powers in Augusta!!! It's going to be interesting to see what happens next. One thing we know is that the TEE beneficiaries are happy. This little election with poor turn-out was chosen to put all the power of the Boardman's, Deke, Osbon's and Morris behind the foothold beach head. It was like the western hemisphere bringing its strength to bear on the small beaches of Normandy and Anzio. It is the biggest election in decades.
You're right, Emery. Al Gore can still come back. Delorians are making a come back too. And, I still have tie dye T-shirts I'm waiting to dust off. I hear they're coming back as well.
SWEET!!!! Time to get going Augusta!
folks... there are probably about 700 or more votes that have still not been tallied.
eastview rec has 2537 registered voters... so far only the absentee and early ballots have been counted for that precinct.. no ballots cast today at eastview have been tallied. That precinct gave Fennoy his highest precinct vote total in the general. So its not over by a long shot. If eastview had a higher than avg turnout then Fennoy quite possibly will win.
so?
Emery: you have to do the math. Aitken won. Wait all 13 boxes have come in and Aitken won by 230 votes.
Finally, the obstructionist blacks have been defeated--by their own people, no less!
If people are going to vote for color and not for what is best for the community. They should be ashamed and never ask why things are not getting any better.
You show me a good loser, and I will show you a loser.
seems to me that whites and blacks voted along racial lines... the heavily white precincts voted overwhelmingly for Aitken and the predominantly black precincts voted for Fennoy.. so lets not kid ourselves here that just blacks vote based on race. But what really made the difference here was not black and white but green.. it shows that in Augusta politics enough money can buy an election. Look for Clay Boardman and Billy Morris to repeat this scenario in other districts. Because turnout is the key. Now if anyone wants to actually believe this is all going to be wine and roses.. well you just wait.. we are in forn some major racial fireworks in Augusta.
Oh well, looks like the city can finally run-itself all the way into the ground...Perdue-Bush Style. Congrats Augusta--You earned it!
Hooray, we are going to get the TEE Center! The Kroc Center! And the Whole Lot of Crock Center! Augusta is on the move! Now just what is it that the conventionaires are going to do when they get here?
Must be a full moon. The conspiracy theorists are coming out in full force.
yea, one puppet won over another.
A large message to those who use their position to advance their own agenda rather that move Augusta forward. This is a happy day for Augusta.
So, a majority white nation elects a black president and a majority black district right here in little ole Augusta elects a white guy. How cool is that! And Boogaloo, are you forgetting the strip joints on lower Broad Street? LOL
HUH, what? Webmaster what was wrong in saying good--the black obstructionist era is over, being voted out by black voters no less--can you explain the removal for violation/?
I am an African American and I voted for Matt Aitken. It was an easy choice. Race had nothing to do with the decision. It all boils down to who is going to help Augusta move in the right direction, and not voting for Fennoy who would literally polute the commission chamber. What a great night for District 1, and especially Augusta.
emrydan. funny man. green money--you talking money made the blacks not vote?
CONGRATULATIONS, Matt on a well earned victory!
Emery, pal, sure there are going to be fireworks with disruptive Commission meetings, protests and what have you, but the way the charter is written, the TEE will be built and lots of things will be quickly passed. Some said they danced a jig when consolidation passed and I bet they are doing it again tonight.
An amen to that Riverman1.
Congrats Matt!
River, who are "they"?
Good.
All said and done, I want to see what happens. Even though I doubt it, maybe it will work.
River, you hit the nail right on. Now, lets get this county moving toward prosperity!