Just 140 votes separated probate judge candidates Doug Agerton and Emilie Mims — but Agerton had such strong support in major precincts in Brewton and Atmore that incumbent Mims could not overcome the deficit.

With nearly15,000 votes cast in Escambia County Tuesday, roughly half of those voters marked a straight ticket ballot. Of those, 55 percent voted Democrat.

Mims carried the majority of the votes cast in the race in the Flomaton area as well as two boxes at Atmore Public Library; however, she could not overcome the deficits at Atmore City Hall and the Brewton Civic Center. Agerton carried several boxes, including those at Atmore City Hall and the Brewton Civic Center as well as the East Brewton Sail Center. Had the 377 people who under voted in the probate judge’s race — meaning either they didn’t vote or they didn’t mark the line on the ballot heavily enough to be counted — the outcome could have been different, since only 140 votes separated the candidates.

Agerton will take office in January.

In the circuit clerk’s race, John Robert Fountain more handily defeated challenger Becki Breckenridge for the seat currently being held by retiring Ken Taylor.

Just more 14,400 votes were cast in the circuit clerk race, with Fountain taking the majority of the larger boxes in both ends of the county. Winning boxes in Brewton, East Brewton and Atmore, Fountain took an early lead as boxes were reported. Breckenridge made a good showing in Atmore winning the two boxes at the Atmore Public Library and taking the Nokomis box as a win. After the final tally, Fountain would win the race by a 17 percent margin. He will be sworn into office in January.

In other county races, Jack D. Crutchfield, representative for District 3 on the Escambia County School Board, was defeated by Mike Edwards, who won all of the boxes in the district.

Incumbent school board member Charles “Chuck” Brooks, representing District 7, was also defeated. Coleman Wallace Sr. won the election by just more than 100 votes to win the seat.

Both members will take the oath of office Nov. 29 in a swearing-in ceremony.