Time capsule

As reported 25 years ago in the pages of The Columbia News and The Martinez-Evans Times, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 1980:

Primary surprises

Early unofficial results of the Tuesday, Aug. 5, 1980, General Primary show that at least three county races will be decided by runoff elections on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

In the race for the office of probate judge, Pat Hardaway will face David Huguenin in a runoff.

Incumbent Columbia County Commissioner U.H. Pittman may face A.R. (Ted) Lane in a Democratic runoff for the Martinez commission seat. James A. Strauss will face the winner in the November General Election.

A Democratic runoff between Charles Allen Jr. and Grayson Brown will decide the Evans commission seat. The winner of this runoff will face Republican Richard B. Butler in November.

Sheriff candidate Tom Whitfield surprised everyone by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary. He defeated Otis Hensley and Ralph Powell in his first bid for public office. He will be challenged by Republican Harold (Ace) Elliott in November.