New Arena Coming, CSRA Election Results

It's official.  Richmond County is getting a new James Brown Arena.

About 13% of the county's registered voters said "yes" Tuesday to a half-cent sales tax to help build a new 10,500 seat arena. The tax will raise about $433 million.   Plans call for tearing down the existing building downtown and constructing the new arena on the same site.

The Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority is scheduled to meet this Thursday and will discuss plans to move forward, now that the project has been approved by the voters.

Officials say it should take about 2 1/2 years to build and complete the new arena.  Construction is expected to begin in mid-2024.

OTHER RICHMOND COUNTY RACES:

Blythe City Council:  Incumbents Noel Cartagena and Daniel Martin will keep their seats

Hephzibah City Council: Clay Fulcher and Jordan Rhoades ran unopposed

The Richmond County Board of Election says 16,162 of the county's registered voters cast a ballot for Tuesday's election.  Just over 4,200 residents cast a ballot during advance voting.

COLUMBIA COUNTY:

Grovetown Mayor:  Gary Jones won a third term, beating opponents Ceretta Smith and Deborah Fisher

Grovetown City Council:  Eric Blair and Richard Bowman each won seats

AIKEN COUNTY:

Aiken Mayor:  The race was already decided last month when Teddy Milner beat incumbent Rich Osbon in the Republican primary runoff.

Aiken City Council:  Democrat incumbent Gail Diggs will keep her District 1 seat; Republican incumbent Kay Brohl was unopposed in District 3

MCDUFFIE COUNTY:

Thomson Mayor:  Benji Cranford defeated incumbent Kenneth Usry with 58% of the vote

Thomson City Council:  Incumbents Keryl Corley, Scott Whittle, John Smalley, Alton Belton and Elaine Johnson will keep their seats.

BURKE COUNTY:

Waynesboro Mayor:  There will be a runoff.  Incumbent Bill Tinley had more votes than challenger James "Chick" Jones, but not enough to win the election outright.  The runoff election will be held December 5.