A runoff election for County Commission Seat 2C will take place in Bulloch County on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. This is the last opportunity to vote in this runoff election.
In the local election in May, Nick Newkirk (R) and Jappy Stringer (R, Incumbent) received the most votes in the primary election. However neither gained 50% plus one vote that would have been needed to win outright in the three person race. This put Newkirk and Stringer into a runoff for Seat 2C.
The race still will not be fully decided until November. The winner of the runoff will run against Len Fatica (D) on November 4, 2024.
Who CAN vote in the runoff:
- Voters who voted on a Republican ballot in May and are registered in County Commission District 2
- Voters who voted on a Nonpartisan ballot in May are registered in County Commission District 2
- Voters who did not vote in May are are registered in County Commission District 2
Who CANNOT vote in the runoff:
- Voters who voted on a Democratic ballot in May
- Voters who are registered in County Commission District 1
You can see a map of districts 1 and 2 HERE.
Candidates in Runoff for Board of Commissioners Seat 2C
Nick Newkirk (R) (Challenger)
BIO: Nick Newkirk, a graduate of Effingham High in 1998 and Southern Tech in Marietta in 2002 with a degree in Construction Management, has over a decade of experience in utility contracting and land development. He opened Crazy Nick's Inflatables in 2009 and has several other small businesses. He and his wife, April, have been married for 20 years, they have four sons (17, 15, 9, and 4). Newkirk has served extensively in children's ministry and scouting, he volunteered for hurricane relief efforts, including Hurricane Ian in Florida, and coached various youth sports teams. He and his family have been in Bulloch County for over 20 years.
PRIORITIES: Newkirk advocates for lowering taxes without relying on increasing the tax digest. He believes a thorough review of each department is necessary to identify areas for potential budget reductions. Living within our means is essential, prioritizing spending based on necessities. Distinguishing between critical projects and those that can be deferred is vital. Simply raising taxes and increasing spending is not a sustainable solution in the long run.
Improving our road infrastructure is a priority for our county. Our current roads struggle to accommodate existing traffic, let alone the increasing volume we can expect with new developments and industry. Many major roads are prone to flooding during heavy rain, leading to dangerous driving conditions. Bulloch County's identity is deeply rooted in its farming heritage. Newkirk believes that preserving that heritage is crucial. He believes that we must actively support farmers to prevent the escalating costs and taxes of farmland from forcing them to sell. Our focus should be on maintaining active agriculture, safeguarding against the conversion of farmland into subdivisions and warehouses. We need to keep tractors in the fields.
Jappy Stringer (R) (Incumbent)
BIO: Jappy Stringer, born and raised in Bulloch County, is deeply rooted in his community. He attended Georgia Southern University and is an alumni of Sigma Chi fraternity. After college, Jappy began working at his family's business, Stringer Chevron, a full-service gas station and mechanic shop founded by his father. He and his wife Emily managed it for over 30 years. A committed volunteer, Jappy contributed significantly to Bulloch County 4-H, Statesboro Fire Department, and the local EMS Rescue Team for three decades. Married for 40 years, he has a son, a daughter and son in law, two grandchildren, and a loyal German Shepherd, Shadow. Jappy also holds positions on the boards of Ogeechee Area Hospice and the Bulloch County Airport Committee. He is a member of First Baptist Church and the Searchers Sunday school class.
PRIORITIES: I am committed to enhancing Bulloch County's Fire and EMS services to better meet our growing community's needs and will continue supporting the Sheriff’s and Public Safety Departments. Although we've made significant progress in extending these services to rural areas, more work remains. Funding strategies is paramount to relieve property owners from bearing the full financial burden. Managing the ongoing growth in housing and economic development is crucial. We we all know, it’s important to balance expansion with the preservation of our rural setting for the benefit of our community and future generations.
Election Day Voting
The official runoff election will occur at your voting precinct on Tuesday, June 18, from 7:00am to 7:00pm. If you are still in line at 7pm, STAY IN LINE. You will be allowed to vote.
How to Check Your Voter Registration, View Ballot, Find Polling Location
CLICK HERE to verify you are registered to vote and to view your ballot. You will enter your first initial, last name, county name, and date of birth. It will then verify you are an active voter and show you the location of your voting precinct. You can also view your sample ballot.
I.D. requirements
Georgia law requires registered voters to show photo identification in order to vote in person.
What IDs are acceptable?
- Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a FREE Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)
- A Georgia Driver’s License
- Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state
- Valid U.S. passport ID
- Valid U.S. military photo ID
- Valid tribal photo ID
Georgia’s Voter Identification Card
If you do not have one of the six acceptable forms of photo ID, the State of Georgia offers a FREE Voter Identification Card. An identification card can be issued at any county registrar’s office or Department of Driver Services Office free of charge. For more information, call 404-656-2871 or Georgia Voter Identification Requirements (click here).
To receive a voter identification card, the voter must provide:
- A photo identity document or approved non-photo identity document that includes full legal name and date of birth
- Documentation showing the voter’s date of birth
- Evidence that the applicant is a registered voter
- Documentation showing the applicant’s name and residential address
Example of a Georgia Voter ID Card
If you do not have a photo ID listed above, you can still vote by provisional ballot. You have three days after the election to bring the required photo ID to your county registrar’s office in order for your provisional ballot to be counted.
If you have to vote a provisional ballot because you don’t have one of the forms of Photo ID listed above, you can go to your county voter registration office, get a FREE photo ID and present it within three days after the election and your provisional ballot will be counted.
If you simply forget your Photo ID, and time permits, you can retrieve it, return to the polling place, and vote.
For more information, contact the Bulloch County Elections office at 912-764-6502.
