2 political newcomers won Tuesday's Lexington County Council  Republican primary races.

Semi-retired businessman Gene “Bimbo” Jones beagt another newcomer, Joel Tyson, in District 5 in south Lexington and Red Bank and will face Democrat Bobby Porter in November.

Educator Charli Wessinger beat former County Council Chairman Johnny Jeffcoat in District 6 in Chapin and Irmio. She has no Democratic opposition.

Jones had 2,424 votes (61%) and Wessinger had 3,556 votes (57%).

Jones, who works as a tire retailer, favors more support for first responders and conservative spending.

Wessinger aims to protect the county’s environment through zoning, changing development standards and rethinking the county’s landfill service.