After a tight race, incumbent Walter Gibson crossed the finish line first in Tuesday’s Republican runoff for Bulloch County Board of Commissioners Seat 2B.

With 2,323 voters casting ballots, Gibson garnered 1,175 votes to Chance’s 1,148, winning by a scant 27 votes, or 51.60 percent of the vote for Gibson to 48.40 percent for Chance.

“It has been a close race, a tight race, and the heat this summer has knocked me out,” Gibson said minutes after receiving the news he won the runoff.

Chance had just seen the results seconds before speaking to a Statesboro Herald reporter.

“It was a tough-fought race,” he said. “We spent almost 20 weeks on the campaign trail.”

Gibson said he is ready to “regroup and think about November,” when he will face Democrat challenger Adrienne Dobbs.

“Thanks to all the people who did get out and vote,” he said. “I am humbled and appreciative, and we have a lot of work to do at the commission office to keep doing the good work we have been doing.”

Chance said his close loss does not dampen his interest in politics.

“You never know where I might pop up,” he said. “I’m not done with politics by a long shot.”

Chance said his daily devotional the morning of the runoff was 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

He offered congratulations to Gibson for a race well run.

Herald reporter Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.