Elections

Eligible voters from Lexington visited the Oglethorpe County Board of Elections building on Nov. 4, 2025 to vote on FLOST, ESPLOST, homestead exemption tax and public service commissioners. (Ansley Gavlak/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Eligible voters from Lexington visited the Oglethorpe County Board of Elections building on Nov. 4, 2025 to vote on FLOST, ESPLOST, homestead exemption tax and public service commissioners. (Ansley Gavlak/The Oglethorpe Echo)

County voters approve FLOST and ESPLOST

Sophia Eppley
Thursday, November 6, 2025
Oglethorpe County voters approved a new Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) and the renewal of the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) on Tuesday.
Rebecca Smith (left), Lucille Endriss (middle) and Gail Spearing (right) volunteer as poll workers for the Lexington mayoral race between Cory Crayton and Evelyn Reece. There are 176 voters who are eligible to vote in this election. (Mia Fishman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Rebecca Smith (left), Lucille Endriss (middle) and Gail Spearing (right) volunteer as poll workers for the Lexington mayoral race between Cory Crayton and Evelyn Reece. There are 176 voters who are eligible to vote in this election. (Mia Fishman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Reece wins Lexington mayoral race

Mia Fishman
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Evelyn Reece will be the next mayor of Lexington.  Reece defeated Cory Crayton, a member of the Lexington City Council and Historic Preservation Board, to win the nonpartisan mayoral race, garnering 58% of the vote on Tuesday.
The sales tax rate in Oglethorpe County is 8%, with half going toward various local option sales taxes. If FLOST passes Nov. 4, the county's sales tax rate will rise to 9%. (Kimberly Thomas/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The sales tax rate in Oglethorpe County is 8%, with half going toward various local option sales taxes. If FLOST passes Nov. 4, the county's sales tax rate will rise to 9%. (Kimberly Thomas/The Oglethorpe Echo)

What to know about FLOST and ESPLOST

Sophia Eppley and Kimberly Thomas
Thursday, October 16, 2025
What is FLOST?The Floating Local Option Sales Tax is a 1% sales tax to help generate revenue for reducing property taxes. The tax is a portion of House Bill 581 that was passed in March 2024 and approved in last November’s general election.
Cory Crayton (left) and Evelyn Reece (right), the candidates in Lexington’s nonpartisan mayoral race, spoke to The Oglethorpe Echo about their views on key issues. (Submitted Photo)

Cory Crayton (left) and Evelyn Reece (right), the candidates in Lexington’s nonpartisan mayoral race, spoke to The Oglethorpe Echo about their views on key issues. (Submitted Photo)

Q&A: Lexington mayoral candidates speak about city’s issues

Mia Fishman
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Cory Crayton and Evelyn Reece, the candidates in Lexington’s nonpartisan mayoral race, spoke to The Oglethorpe Echo about their views on key issues, such as city utilities, economic development and historic preservation.
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Two-person mayoral race in Lexington

News Staff
Saturday, August 30, 2025
It appears there will be a mayoral race in Lexington this fall. Cory Crayton, who is on the city council, and Evelyn Reece both qualified to run for mayor to replace Ronnie Boggs, who said he wasn’t going to run this year.
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News Roundup: Boswell elected chair of state board

News Staff
Friday, August 29, 2025
Jamie Boswell, the representative of the 10th Congressional District on the State Transportation Board, was elected chair of the board on Aug. 21. Oglethorpe County is included in the 10th district. Boswell was elected to the board in 2013.
Oglethorpe County Elections Supervisor Marilyn Huff-Waller asks "Where are all the voters?" the morning of the special election at the county elections office on June 17. Though Election Day turnout was slow, Election Assistant Steve McCannon said the county was ahead of other parts of the state in early voting. (Photo/Dink NeSmith)

Oglethorpe County Elections Supervisor Marilyn Huff-Waller asks "Where are all the voters?" the morning of the special election at the county elections office on June 17. Though Election Day turnout was slow, Election Assistant Steve McCannon said the county was ahead of other parts of the state in early voting. (Photo/Dink NeSmith)

Turnout is low for special election

Zach Leggio
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
A special election Tuesday cemented primary choices for the Public Service Commission and an open seat on the Winterville City Council, despite low turnout.
Lexington sees the largest change in party preference, after adjusting for voter turnout in 2020 and 2024 elections. (Graphic/Chloe Beaver)

Lexington sees the largest change in party preference, after adjusting for voter turnout in 2020 and 2024 elections. (Graphic/Chloe Beaver)

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Republican voter share increases in county

Chloe Beaver
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Oglethorpe County’s 2024 presidential election results reveal a notable increase in Republican support compared to 2020 across all three precincts.  Lexington saw the most significant change, with a 3.4% rise in Republican voter share and nearly a 3% decline in Democratic voter share.
A sign identifies the Crawford Depot as a polling location on Tuesday morning. There were 170 votes cast there by 10 a.m.

A sign identifies the Crawford Depot as a polling location on Tuesday morning. There were 170 votes cast there by 10 a.m.

Voters get early start at Crawford Depot

Makenzy Wolford
Thursday, November 7, 2024
First-time voters were among the early crowd at the Crawford Depot on Tuesday morning.  “I’m just trying to do my part,” said Elliott Fowler, first-time voter and Arnoldsville resident.  Fowler wasn’t the only first-time voter at the Depot.
Oglethorpe County elections supervisor Marilyn Huff-Waller (left) helps distribute and count votes at the Board of Elections in Lexington on Tuesday. Nationally, Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the presi- dential race to return to the White House. (Mary Catherine Dodys / The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County elections supervisor Marilyn Huff-Waller (left) helps distribute and count votes at the Board of Elections in Lexington on Tuesday. Nationally, Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the presi- dential race to return to the White House. (Mary Catherine Dodys / The Oglethorpe Echo)

Incumbents Paul, Saxon cruise to victory in heavy turnout

Mary Catherine Dodys
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Republican incumbents easily held onto their seats on Tuesday.  Commission chair Jay Paul and District 2 commissioner Andy Saxon defeated their Democratic challengers in the election.