Hightower Wins D68

Carrollton attorney Dustin Hightower is Georgia’s new District 68 House Representative following his victory in Tuesday’s run-off election. Hightower received more votes than Alan Martinez in 13 of 17 Carroll and Douglas county precincts and more than 55% of the total vote.

Because the District 68 Representative race required a special election and run-off this year, Hightower has less than a week to prepare for his first legislative session. “First of all, we are going to take tonight and celebrate with the family,” he said Tuesday evening. “Tonight was a victory for family and friends and all the people of District 68 that helped get us here. We kept our campaign positive and it helped get us here.”

Hightower will serve the remaining year of Tim Bearden’s unfinished two-year term. Bearden stepped down in late October 2011.

To continue as representative after 2012, Hightower will have to begin with the qualifying process this Spring for another election this November.

Runner-up Alan Martinez thanked his supporters and family last night and congratulated Hightower on a “great race.” The Villa Rica based financial advisor says he is considering challenging Hightower for the seat again, later this year. He says “We turned 400 votes in December(‘s special election) into more than 1,000 votes a month later.” He continues, “That’s a testimony to an amazing campaign team.”

Carroll County Elections Supervisor Becky Deese says 6.9% of registered District 68 voters in Carroll County voted Tuesday.

With all 17 precincts reporting, the unofficial totals are Hightower with 1,259 votes, Martinez 1,013 votes.