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As anticipated, turnouts for the 2014 Primary Election Run-off were low. With 33 precincts counted, St. Clair County reported that 3,291 ballots were cast at Tuesday’s election. Despite the slim turnout, votes were cast, and results are in.

With a very narrow lead over his opponent, Shay Shelnutt will be the new senator in Alabama’s District 17. In St. Clair, Shelnutt was shown to have received 217 votes in comparison to opponent Brett King’s 205 votes. No Democrats filed for Senate District 17, so Shelnutt will face no opposition in the November election.

Four other winners were selected from last Tuesday’s votes. Among those is John Merrill who won the run-off for secretary of state and received 56.67 percent of St. Clair County votes. Merrill will face Democrat Lula Albert-Kaigler in the general election in November. Jim Zeigler won his run-off for state auditor against Dale Peterson and received 67.44 percent of St. Clair votes. Zeigler will take on opponent and Democrat Miranda Joseph of Montgomery in the general election Nov. 4. For the seat of public service commission, place 2, Chris “Chip” Beeker, Jr. took the lead over opponent Terry Dunn with 63.83 percent of St. Clair votes and will have no opposition in the November race.

Also voted on in Tuesday’s election was the statewide amendment for cotton promotion. With 100 percent of the precincts across the state reporting, the amendment passed, with 67 percent voting “yes.” The cotton amendment received “yes” votes from 65.07 percent of St. Clair’s voters.