Incumbent Effingham County tax commissioner Linda McDaniel fended off a challenge from local businessman John Kieffer, winning with nearly 62 percent of the vote. McDaniel, who beat incumbent Lisa Wright four years ago, said she was surprised at the margin of victory and was relieved the campaign was over.

“I thought it would be a lot closer than what it was,” she said. “We were excited. I campaigned just as hard as the last time. It was very difficult. I had a very strong opponent. The voters who supported me are the reason I was elected, and I am deeply grateful to them.”

McDaniel said she didn’t feel secure in her victory until about 10 p.m. Tuesday night. She had well-wishers and congratulations throughout the day Wednesday.

“I was elated,” she said. “I had a lot of friends around me, and we were very excited. It was very nerve-wracking. You don’t know until the votes are counted. You wonder if you did enough.”

Her husband Ronnie put up her campaign signs and even though many were knocked down by storms, “he went and put every sign up again,” she said.

“We worked hard on this campaign,” McDaniel added. “I did a lot of word of mouth, and I had people speaking up for me. I tried to be positive. I tried to run a clean race.”

McDaniel also turned to social media to get her message out, starting a Facebook page in the waning days of the campaign. She used it to answer Kieffer’s charges of $7 million in uncollected taxes. On her Facebook page, McDaniel posted she had a collection rate of 98 percent in real property taxes and her office had collected  more than $5 million in back taxes in the last fiscal year.

“I do come to work. I am willing to work with people,” she said. “I understand it’s difficult times, and I think everyone else does as well. I think all the little things added up. We have collected taxes, and the commissioners were able to set the millage rate based on our collection rate.”

McDaniel was back at work Wednesday morning, trying to get the property tax digest completed.

“We’re trying to get it to Atlanta and get it approved,” she said. “Then it’s on the next tax year.”

Exley re-elected as coroner
David Exley, the incumbent Effingham coroner, also handily won re-election to his position. He beat challenger Christopher Frost by garnering 79 percent of the votes cast in their race.

“Mr. Frost ran a good, clean race,” Exley said. “I appreciate all the support.”