CENTRE — The two main story lines from last night’s primary election in Cherokee County were the number of Republicans who voted in the county’s first-ever contested dual primaries and the easy passage of an extension of a one-cent sales tax for schools. 

A total of 3,103 GOP voters cast their ballots Tuesday, compared to 2,705 Democrats. With 16 voters choosing the non-partisan ballot, the total number to participate in the March 13 primary was 5,824—a 40 percent turnout among the county’s 14,571 registered voters. 

Republican Party Chairman John Ellis told The Post the changing political wind has been a long time coming. 

“I think the Republican party outpolling the Democratic party is the culmination of a trend in Cherokee County,” Ellis said. “We all knew this day was coming.” 

A two-year extension of a one-cent sales tax for education passed easily, with nearly 70 percent of the vote. The finally tally was 3,871 votes for the tax, 1,716 against. 

In the race for probate judge, Kirk Day easily defeated Tony O’Neal in the Republican race, 2,055 (73 percent) to 771 (27 percent). Day will face Democratic challenger Sid Garrett in November. Garrett defeated County Commissioner Kimball Parker 1,814 (69 percent) to 798 (31 percent). 

Mitchell Guice (1,677 votes) defeated Ben East (1,138) in the Republican race for superintendent of education and will face Democrat Brett Keasler on Nov. 6. Keasler defeated Superintendent Brian Johnson, 1,561 to 1,053. 

In the lone contested County Commission race, Democratic challenger Lanny Starr defeated incumbent Dist. 3 Commissioner Elbert St. Clair, 1,438 (54 percent) to 1,203 (46 percent). Starr will face Republican Marcie Foster in the fall. 

In races for Board of Education, Place 4 incumbent Dewandee Neyman narrowly held onto her seat against challenger Trudy Lowe in the Democratic race, 1,318 to 1,277. Neyman will race GOP challenger Mark Green in the fall. 

In the Place 3 race, Democratic challenger Suzanne Bishop (1,647) defeated incumbent Don Stowe (955). In the General Election Bishop will face Republican Linda Archer, who outdueled Randy Hunter in a close race, 1,201 to 1,184.

In the race for the Republican nomination for president, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich was the top vote-getter in Cherokee County, with 915. Right behind was former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum with 904. GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney was third in Cherokee County with 678 votes. Statewide, Santorum was the top vote-getter.

In the GOP race for chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, former chief justice Roy Moore was the winner in Cherokee County. Moore received 1,510 votes and Chuck Malone had 501 votes; Charlie Graddick received 388 votes.