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Democratic incumbents declared winners in Georgia House races
Burns won't contest results
Barrow photo for web
John Barrow - photo by Associated Press

ATLANTA — Georgia’s secretary of state on Wednesday certified the results of the Nov. 7 general election, declaring two Democratic congressmen winners in their re-election bids, but by slim margins.
    Rep. John Barrow of Savannah defeated Republican Max Burns of Sylvania in eastern Georgia’s 12th District by just 864 votes out of 142,438 cast.
    "All the votes have been counted and the results are now official," said Barrow. "It's time to move past the campaign season and get to work for the people of Georgia."
    Burns could have requested a recount because Barrow won by less than 1 percent of the vote. But the Sylvania Republican said Thursday he has decided not to pursue a recount.

    "I've talked with John this morning and informed him I will not ask the secretary of state for an automatic recount and wished him well in his future Congressional service," Burns said. "While the vote was extremely close, we accept the results as certified."

    "I appreciate the 70,000 plus voters in the 12th District whyo voted for me and my campaign to get this country back on track. I am also thankful for the hundreds of volunteers who walked neighborhoods, made phone calls and campaigned for me in every corner of the district. Lora and I met friends in all 22 counties and we're both grateful for the trust they placed in us and for the opportunity to have served in Congress. What an honor."

    Political experts said they did not expect that a recount would alter the final result.
    The certified results also showed that Democratic Rep. Jim Marshall of Macon defeated Republican Mac Collins of Jackson by 1,752 votes to hold onto his seat in middle Georgia’s 8th District. In that race, 159,568 votes were cast.
    Barrow and Marshall have already claimed victory. Burns and Collins, both former GOP congressmen, have yet to concede defeat.
    The final tallies released by Secretary of State Cathy Cox show Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue posting an impressive 20 percentage point win in his bid for re-election. Perdue received 58 percent of the vote compared to 38 percent for his Democratic rival, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor. Libertarian Garrett Michael Hayes received 4 percent of the vote.
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    Georgia secretary of state: www.sos.state.ga.us

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