Incumbent Mark Jones will return to his seat as Jackson County commissioner after receiving the highest percentage of votes in the May 6 primary.

Democratic voters rallied for Jones, who was a commissioner when the county adopted its controversial steep slope and subdivision ordinances.

“It makes me feel very proud that the county pulled together to support Joe and I,” he said. “I feel good. I know we can do some great things in four more years.”

First-time voter Max Degrove, 18, voted in favor for Jones because he supports the county’s land-use ordinances.

“We need to protect this area from subdivisions and gated communities,” he said.

Jones’ seat was contested by two anti-land-use candidates — Steven Foster and Lynn Dillard. Foster received 31 percent of the votes. Foster was disappointed that he did not receive a higher amount of votes.

“I got my butt whooped,” Foster said. “I ran to give the people a clear choice and they had it. I guess my point of view for the county is apparently not what they wanted.”

Sylva artist Rusty Owens voted for Foster because of his platform to re-write the county’s steep slope and subdivision ordinances.

Dillard, who decided to dropout of the race but could not take her name off the ballot, received 17 percent of the votes.