By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Unofficial election results for Morgan County on Tuesday night showed wins for both Democratic incumbent Becky Astin and Democrat Erica L. Veasley.
Astin was re-elected to her post of Morgan County Tax Commissioner with 58.81 percent of the vote, or 5,116 votes out of 8,699 total votes, while Veasley won the Morgan County Board of Education District 1 seat with 64.11 percent of the vote, or 1,129 votes out of 1,761 total votes.
Astin said she was nervous earlier in the evening as results came in at the Board of Elections and Registrations Office.
“This determines whether or not you have a job tomorrow,” she said. “I don’t take it for granted.”
Astin added that she loves her job.
“I have a job tomorrow for four more years,” she said. “I love my job. I love it.”
She added that when it gets to the point that she does not love her job or cannot help the public, she will go home.
“I’m very, very happy that the people have chosen to put me back in,” she said.
Astin thanked her family, who was present, as well as the people who called, sent letters of encouragement and requested yard signs to help her.
“Thanks!” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without them.”
This will be Astin’s fourth term in office. While in office she has collected more than 95 percent of personal and property taxes and the tax digest has risen from almost $13 million in 2001 to more than $18 million in 2012. 
Veasley began Election Night at the Board of Elections and Registration Office before moving on to a Democratic watch night event at Calvary Baptist Church.
She said that election night was very humbling for her as a candidate.
“To me a win says people are putting their confidence in me,” she said. “I have the desire to be the best board member for people I’m representing in my district and in the county.”
She noted that her predecessor, Minnie B. Peek, has done an exceptional job.
“We had so much confidence in her because she had the best interest of the children of Morgan County,” she said. “That’s the type of commitment I hope to make.”
Earlier in the night she said that between her basic ideas and having people to nudge her in the right direction helped her campaigning.
“The campaign’s over, now the work begins,” she said, adding that part of that work entails being responsive to the citizenry. “I just feel incredibly blessed.”
Vealsey said the Democratic Party was “wonderful” and that her parents were “phenomenal.”
She said that the whole process has been an experience.
“People tossing ideas at you and their opinions, just hearing what they had to say,” she said. “This is just the beginning.”
Elections Supervisor Bobby Howington said that voter turnout of 73.91 percent is down about five percent from four years ago.
“It’s still a good turnout,” he said.
David Moore, a member of the Morgan County Board of Elections & Registration, said that voter turnout tracked very closely to nationwide projections.

Printed in the November 8, 2012 edition