By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Shelby County Commission District 4 candidates Ron Griggs and Ward Williams will meet in a runoff in April based on provisional ballots from the March 1 primary election.

As of March 1, Griggs led the race with 1,508 votes (38.59 percent), followed closely by Williams with 1,262 votes (32.29 percent) and Gene Rowley with 1,138 votes (29.12 percent), according to unofficial election results.

Griggs and Rowley each received five votes from provisional ballots, and Williams received none.

Provisional ballots counted at the Shelby County Courthouse on March 8 were necessary in determining the top two vote getters that would proceed to the runoff for the Republican Party nomination for the District 4 seat.

Of the 362 total provisional ballots from 40 precincts, 249 ballots were accepted, 109 were rejected and four were absentee ballots.

Election results will be certified on Friday, March 11.

No results from the March 1 primary were changed by provisional ballots, meaning Sunday alcohol sales in the county will begin on Sunday, March 13.

The runoff will be held on April 12. The general election is set for Nov. 8.