VALDOSTA – Ashley Paulk, the once and future sheriff, defeated incumbent Chris Prine in the race for sheriff of Lowndes County.

Paulk gathered 20,907 votes to Prine’s 15, 654. Paulk served four consecutive terms as sheriff from 1993 to 2009. Paulk opted not to seek a fifth term and served as Lowndes County Commission Chairman from 2009 to 2013.

State Rep. Dexter Sharper survived a challenge from Deidra White in the race for District 177. Sharper received 8,971 to White’s 5,001.

Statewide, Georgia voters rejected a proposed amendment that would have allowed the state to take control of failing schools from local school boards.

Lowndes County Election Results: