Despite a surprisingly heavy turnout in the rainsoaked Blacksburg area Tuesday, voters will have to return to the polls in two weeks before determining a Democrat and Republican winner in the special election for Cherokee County Council District 7.

The Republican Party primary generated the most excitement with nearly 890 votes cast. Tracy McDaniel was the top vote-getter with 394 but failed to gain a majority with 45 percent of the vote. School board trustee Donnie Lee Smith was next with 313 votes and 35 percent.

“I appreciate all the voters who came out,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel said his strategy won’t change for the Nov. 24 runoff.

“We’ll just continue to do the same thing, getting out talking to the people and letting them know what we’re about,” McDaniel said.

Smith also thanked his supporters and added, “I just look forward to serving the county in any capacity we can.”

Brad Upchurch received 115 votes and Dennis Stroupe got 62 votes in the Republican Party primary.

Nearly 24 percent of registered voters turned out to vote in the GOP primary. That number dropped to only 8 percent in the Democrat Party primary, where Clay Greer and Thomas Moss battled it out in a close race.

Greer just missed receiving a majority of the vote with 146 votes and 49 percent of the votes cast. Moss got 46 percent and 137 votes.

William Wilson picked up just 15 votes but it was enough to deny Greer a majority.

“We’ll just have to do more door-knocking,” Greer said. “I just want to thank everybody who came out in this weather.”

Moss echoed Greer’s sentiment about the voters. “I just appreciate everybody who came out,” he said.
REPUBLICANS
Tracy McDaniel: 394
Donnie Smith: 313
Brad Upchurch: 115
Dennis Stroupe: 62
DEMOCRATS
Clay Greer: 146
Thomas Moss: 137
William Wilson: 15