Incumbent Butch Parrish swept away with the race for District 156 Tuesday night, pulling in more than 68 percent of votes with 90 percent of all precincts reporting.
According to the Georgia Secretary of State's office, challenger Jonathan McCollar garnered about 32 percent of the votes (with 90 percent of all precinct reporting as of 11 p.m. Tuesday).
Parrish said "I am pleased and humbled by the vote. The large turnout shows people are really interested in government, and I look forward to representing our district for two more years."
Parrish, a pharmacist from Swainsboro, banked on his experience, having been in office over 20 years. McCollar, an educator and Statesboro native who supervises programs for at-risk children and helps them graduate, said in earlier interviews he was focused on improving funding for education as well as addressing concerns for the economy.
In interviews last week, Parrish expressed concern for the economy as well, and said he would continue to serve citizens by focusing on programs that lowered taxes and work towards decisions that would help the economy.
After preliminary predictions late Tuesday evening that he won by a significant percentage, with 90 percent of precincts reporting according to the Georgia Secretary of State's office, Parrish said "I feel pretty good" about the election.
As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, with five of six Bulloch County precincts in areas within District 156, 2,935 Bulloch voters chose Parrish, while 2,039 voted for McCollar.
In Candler County, with three of four precincts reporting by 11 p.m., 2,322 vote were cast for Parrish while McCollar garnered 934 votes.
With 12 of 13 precincts reporting in the part of Emanuel County within District 156, 5,066 voters chose Parrish and 2,068 votes went to McCollar.
All six of Johnson County's precincts within District 156 had been counted at 11 p.m., with McCollar trailing at 200 votes to Parrish's 946 votes.
These totals were incomplete at Herald press time, but the Georgia Secretary of State Internet web site (www.sos.georgia.gov/elections) had Parrish winning by 68.1 percent to McCollar's 31.9 percent.
McCollar could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
According to the Georgia Secretary of State's office, challenger Jonathan McCollar garnered about 32 percent of the votes (with 90 percent of all precinct reporting as of 11 p.m. Tuesday).
Parrish said "I am pleased and humbled by the vote. The large turnout shows people are really interested in government, and I look forward to representing our district for two more years."
Parrish, a pharmacist from Swainsboro, banked on his experience, having been in office over 20 years. McCollar, an educator and Statesboro native who supervises programs for at-risk children and helps them graduate, said in earlier interviews he was focused on improving funding for education as well as addressing concerns for the economy.
In interviews last week, Parrish expressed concern for the economy as well, and said he would continue to serve citizens by focusing on programs that lowered taxes and work towards decisions that would help the economy.
After preliminary predictions late Tuesday evening that he won by a significant percentage, with 90 percent of precincts reporting according to the Georgia Secretary of State's office, Parrish said "I feel pretty good" about the election.
As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, with five of six Bulloch County precincts in areas within District 156, 2,935 Bulloch voters chose Parrish, while 2,039 voted for McCollar.
In Candler County, with three of four precincts reporting by 11 p.m., 2,322 vote were cast for Parrish while McCollar garnered 934 votes.
With 12 of 13 precincts reporting in the part of Emanuel County within District 156, 5,066 voters chose Parrish and 2,068 votes went to McCollar.
All six of Johnson County's precincts within District 156 had been counted at 11 p.m., with McCollar trailing at 200 votes to Parrish's 946 votes.
These totals were incomplete at Herald press time, but the Georgia Secretary of State Internet web site (www.sos.georgia.gov/elections) had Parrish winning by 68.1 percent to McCollar's 31.9 percent.
McCollar could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.