Jonesborough businessman and first time candidate Dan Eldridge took 34 of 41 precincts Tuesday, May 4, 2010 to capture 51.31 percent of the 13,028 votes cast in Washington County. Eldridge said his message of “running government like a business” resonated with voters.  ”I would like to thank the voters of Washington County and all of the people who supported me throughout this campaign,” Eldridge said. “We stayed focused on the need to attract new jobs to our community and to control spending.” Eldridge is already working on a transition plan with long-term Mayor George Jaynes who has held the office for more than 20 years.  The other two candidates in the race Don Arnold and James Reeves, captured 34.56 percent and 14.05 percent of the vote respectively. Although the race was a Republican primary, no Democratic candidate is running in August so the winner of the primary is the next Washington County Mayor. Eldridge will be sworn in shortly before he becomes Mayor on September 1. Please click on the photo link above to see Tina Wilson’s election night photos from Jonesborough.