Republican Lynn Sasser Tuesday defeated former Democratic challenger Johnny Mac Weed in the race for Weed’s former office, chair of the Covington County Commission.

Sasser collected 57 percent, or 8,742 of the votes cast in the race.

“Our top priority will be to look at the budget,” Sasser said. “Some of the commissioners want to look at it again.”

Sasser said that “look” will be with an eye toward cutting expenses.

“We’re going to have to,” he said. “I believe we’ll work together as a team. We’ll get together and discuss the issues because the name of the game is cooperation.

“If we can stand united, we can stand,” Sasser said. “I’m looking forward to working with the commissioners.”

Both Bragg Carter and Carl Turman won their bids for another term on the county commission.

“I’m just thankful for the people who have confidence in me for serving them four more years,” Carter, who was the only Democratic frontrunner on the ballot in Covington County Tuesday, said. “We’re going to work just as hard for them for these next four years than we have had these last 12. I think we’ve lost sight of serving our people and we need to get out of it.”

Carter received 58 percent of the votes cast in his race. He said the commission has a tough task ahead of it.

“We’re going to have to take and look at the whole county situation and not just try and pick just one aspect out of a lot of them,” Carter said. “We just need to take the whole thing and look at it and look at what may benefit the county. We don’t want to do something that’s going to have an adverse affect on the citizens of the county. We want to do what we feel that is best for the taxpayers.”

Turman, who received 57 percent of the votes cast in his race, said, “I’m excited and aim to let the voters know just how much I appreciate what they’ve done for me. I look forward to the next four years. I’m going to do good for the people of Covington County. I’m ready to get us back on track and back in the black.”

Wiley Ward, who lost his bid for the commission, has had two deaths in his family in recent days and said he was unable to spend time campaigning.

“I didn’t have a chance with the two deaths in the family,” Ward said. “I didn’t have a chance to campaign and I think the people are satisfied with the incumbents. If they are satisfied with them, than they are going to have to struggle. So, I’m not going to be upset one way or the other.

Ward said, “I did offer my candidacy and I did spell out some things that I would do if I was elected. I have nothing against Bragg Carter, he’s a good guy. The whole commission has just deteriorated. We’re right on the verge of bankruptcy right now.”

Eugene Nall, who also lost his bid for the commission, said, “I give my opponent credit for his win. He worked hard and it has been a very clean campaign. We didn’t have anything to say about each other and I respect him for that. I just wish him the best of luck and I support him.”

The new county administration will be sworn in next Wednesday.