Newcomer appears to beat ex-mayor in Milledgeville election

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Milledgeville voters appear to have chosen a political newcomer to be their next mayor, though a recount of the ballots may be needed to say for sure.

Unofficial results of a special election Tuesday showed first-time candidate Gary Thrower defeating former mayor Floyd Griffin Jr. by just 35 votes. Griffin said he plans to ask for a recount.

A special election was called after Milledgeville Mayor Richard Bentley resigned in February. He was arrested on charges of insurance fraud a month later.

Griffin had appeared to be the front-runner going into the election Tuesday. In the first round of voting June 16, Griffin won 45 percent of the vote to Thrower's 33 percent in a three-way race that was forced into a runoff.