Macon-Bibb election results: See who won contested county commission races

Editor’s note: This story is part of ongoing coverage of the May 21 elections in Bibb County. For additional up-to-date coverage of races, please visit macon.com.

Seven seats on the Macon-Bibb County Commission were up for grabs Tuesday in Georgia’s non-partisan elections, and several of them were decided with Tuesday’s results.

But a couple races are headed for a run-off.

Districts 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 were contested in Tuesday’s races, and districts 3 and 8 will need another round of voting to determine a winner, based on unofficial results from the Georgia secretary of state’s office.

Results from all precincts were not announced until Wednesday morning, as issues at the Bibb County Board of Elections office caused delays.

Here are the results of each race.

District 2

Incumbent Paul Bronson, 38, secured his second term as District 2 commissioner against challenger Wallace Herring, according to unofficial results from the Georgia secretary of state with all precincts reporting their votes. The district covers most of downtown and south to Guy Paine Road.

Bronson got about 76% of the vote, according to results from the secretary of state’s office.

Bronson, who worked as a firefighter and senior human resources officer for the U.S. Reserves, said the biggest challenges facing Macon-Bibb are communication, economic stability and development inequality. His goals are to fight the food deserts in the Pleasant Hill and Houston Avenue neighborhood and finish the development of the MLK Small and Minority Business District. He also wants to solve flooding issues in Amerson Park, Claremont, Shirley Hills and Baconsfield.

“One of my goals is to bridge the gap between downtown and Houston Avenue,” Bronson told the Telegraph on the eve of Election Day. “Macon is a great place to live and it’s time to change the narrative and make sure that all Maconites thrive,” he previously told The Telegraph.

District 3

District 3 looks set for a run-off, as none of the three candidates in the race could secure a majority of the vote in Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial results from the Georgia secretary of state.

Melvin Flowers Jr., Everett Slay and Stanley Stewart were vying for the seat. Flowers had the most votes, securing 47% of ballots cast. Stewart had the second-most, with 38% of the vote. Those two will compete in the run-off election on June 18.

Flowers, who goes by “Coach,” considers himself “a man of the people,” according to a campaign flier. He has been a longtime youth sports coach in the Athletic Amateur Association, and says he won a national basketball championship as a coach. For over 20 years, he organized an annual Christmas luncheon for senior citizens. Equity is at the forefront of his mission as commissioner, he said. He also worked for several years as a substitute teacher in Bibb County.

Stewart, a Northside High School alum, has lived in Macon for 47 years. He served as vice president of the Belvedere Manor and Weaver Heights Neighborhood Association, chairman of the Macon Film Commission, an elder at Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church and worked in the county’s office of workforce development. Stewart plans to strengthen the county’s public safety, economic development and infrastructure.

DISTRICT 5

Incumbent Seth Clark, who is also mayor pre tempore, held off challenger Caitlin Mee to be reelected, according to unofficial results from the Georgia secretary of state.

Clark, who received about 81% of the vote, has served as county commissioner for the district since January 2021 and has been the executive director of the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative since April 2021.

He wants to tackle poverty and crime by funding law enforcement, increasing access to mental health services, funding neighborhood-based crime prevention programs and removing blighted properties. He’s also leading the initiative to designate national park status to the Ocmulgee Mounds, which he contends will preserve the area and boost tourism for Macon.

“This is a testament that our neighbors believe everything is going in the right direction,” Clark said of his reelection.

District 6

Incumbent Raymond Wilder has won the election for the Macon-Bibb County Commission District 6 seat, according to unofficial results from the Georgia secretary of state. Wilder beat challenger George Thomas and held about 71% of the vote as of Wednesday morning.

“I love this area, I’ve lived in Macon-Bibb all my life,” Wilder said. “I want to do all I can to make District 6 and Macon-Bibb all it can be.”

Wilder was first elected in 2020. He works as an insurance adjuster and grew up in Macon.

In his upcoming term, he plans to prioritize improving infrastructure and public safety. He specifically wants to aim SPLOST money towards road resurfacing, and wants to gauge public interest around adding another recreation center.

District 7

Incumbent Bill Howell has won the election for the Macon-Bibb County Commission District 7 seat, according to unofficial results from the Georgia secretary of state. Howell got about 75% of the vote and beat two challengers, Chris Barfield and Michael McKeever.

Howell was first elected to the board of commissioners in 2020, and is the former owner and operator of Billy Bob’s towing company.

As commissioner, he plans to continue improving stormwater drainage and roads.

District 8

Unofficial results filed Wednesday morning indicate District 8 will have a run-off. No one in the crowded four-candidate field was able to secure a majority of the vote. Donice Bryant, Daniel Angelo, Kim Jenkins and Michele Parks were in the race.

Bryant secured about 35% of the vote and Jenkins secured about 25%, making them the top two candidates in the race, according to unofficial results from the Georgia secretary of state. Those two will compete in a run-off on June 18 to determine the winner of the seat.

Bryant holds a background in law enforcement at the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, and has volunteered with Alternate Life Path and House of Hope in Atlanta. She said she aims to address issues involving economic development, public safety, infrastructure and neighborhood blight.

Jenkins is involved with the Neighborhood Watch Sheriff Program, Macon-Bibb Recreation Center, Macon Black Voices, Triad Senior Citizen Program and Keeping Macon-Bibb Beautiful. She aims to strengthen infrastructure, public safety, affordable housing and local businesses, according to her campaign website.

DISTRICT 9

Incumbent Brendalyn Bailey has been reelected to the District 9 seat, according to unofficial results from the Georgia secretary of state. Bailey took over office after the previous county commissioner, Al Tillman, resigned. Both had fought for the spot in 2020, but the position went to Tillman. Other than being a county commissioner, she’s a retired educator who still teaches at Central Georgia Technical College.

Bailey received about 60% of the vote in Tuesday’s election, according to the secretary of state’s office.

While in office, she plans to use social media and other online resources to connect with Macon residents. She also wants to make appearances outside rather than being solely at an office in an effort to connect with Macon residents. As for the issues she wishes to address, she’s focused on improving infrastructure, reducing crime and creating opportunities for the young Macon residents.

“Thank you for electing me,” Bailey said, addressing getting the votes to win. “I am elated.”