Baldwin voters chose new leadership Tuesday, electing Douglas Faust as the city’s next mayor and returning former mayor Joe Elam to city government.
Faust, a political newcomer and former CEO of the Decatur Housing Authority, defeated incumbent councilwoman Alice Venter with 55% of the vote. He received 182 votes across Habersham and Banks counties to Venter’s 147.
Venter issued this statement following the election: “This is a time to rejoice! God has a plan for me and a plan for Baldwin. And I think part of that plan has been one of personal growth for me and for Baldwin, a time of settling of the dust,” she said. “I’m looking forward to all of the things I get to reveal and the way I can interact with our government as a private citizen. Stay tuned, I’m not going anywhere.”
Elam is not going anywhere, either, in fact, he’s returning to the city council after abruptly resigning as mayor in 2023. Elam will return to the governing body he once led after winning 65% of the vote over James Wiese, who got 111 votes to Elam’s 203.
RELATED Habersham County Election results
Clarkesville and Demorest
In Clarkesville, former councilwoman Leigh Johnston will rejoin the city council. Johnston defeated Rick Coulon with nearly 59% of the vote, 203 to 142 votes.
Demorest voters also returned two incumbents to office. Councilmen Shawn Allen and Andrew Ferguson were the top finishers in a four-candidate race, receiving 158 and 117 votes, respectively. Jim Welborn finished with 110 votes, and Patti Davis received 72.
And on the question of whether to grant their local government “all redevelopment powers allowed under the Redevelopment Powers Law,” Demorest voters said ‘yes,’ by an 8-point margin. The measure passed with 54% of the vote—129 to 110.
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