BAY MINETTE, Alabama — About 4 percent of the registered voters turned out Tuesday to decide a North Baldwin County Board of Education seat and a statewide race for Alabama Public Service Commission.

Daphne resident Ned Egbert was the 35th voter to arrive at the Spanish Fort Volunteer Fire Department polling site.

 “I am voting for the candidate and the responsibility we have cast our ballots,” Egbert said. “There’s a lot of apathy. People make comments about the people in office, but they don’t vote. It doesn’t make sense.”

Political newcomer David Cox defeated former Bay Minette Mayor Sonny Dobbins for the District 1 school Board seat, which was the only local race in the county.

 Unofficial returns gave Cox the nod with 62 percent of the vote. Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh won the Republican nomination with an unofficial tally of more than 60 percent against rival Chip Brown, a Mobile businessman.

Baldwin County Probate Judge Tim Russell said Wednesday there were no reported problems, but expressed disappointment at the low voter participation.

 “There was only one state runoff on most of the ballots, so the interest was just not there,” he said. Anticipating a low turnout, Russell utilized a minimum number of poll workers to save about $26,000.

Baldwin County Circuit Clerk Jody Campbell, who also serves as absentee election manager said she sent 118 applications and 32 ballots were returned. More than 450 absentee ballots were cast in the primary election.