Russell Smith, who represents District 5 in the Decatur County Board of Commissioners, fended off a battle from Republican challenger Terry Ellis on Tuesday night, defeating Ellis 825 to 659, in the November general election.

Smith finished with 55.5 percent of the vote, to Ellis’s 44.3 percent.

“I’m deeply honored and humbled by the voters in District 5,” Smith said. “I pray that I can live up to their expectations.

“I will continue to work for the citizens of this county, with respect and integrity.”

Ellis said he appreciated the support from District 5 citizens, particularly in light of the fact that he did not grow up in Decatur County, like Smith did.

“I appreciate all the people who stood up with us,” he said. “For me not being originally from here, it was really special to see all that support. I wish Commissioner Smith the best of luck.”

In the only other contested race in Decatur County, Democratic candidate Kenny Hollis defeated Republican candidate Andrew Heard in the race for coroner. Hollis finished with 6,125 votes (62.8 percent) to Heard’s 3,565 votes (36.6 percent). Incumbent coroner Peter Bruton chose not to run for re-election; Hollis had served as the deputy coroner under Bruton.

The total number of voters in Decatur County was 10,517 out of 14,145, for a turnout of 74.35 percent of eligible voters.

Tuesday night’s unofficial totals did not include provisional ballots, but there are not enough of those ballots to affect the final results.