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Stanly County’s District 5 will have a new representative on the county’s Board of Commissioners after Tuesday’s election, but he is not new to serving as a commissioner.

Peter Asciutto, Republican and owner of Vac & Dash in Albemarle, won Tuesday’s election over unaffiliated candidate Dr. Eric Johnsen. In unofficial results posted by the Stanly County Board of Elections, Asciutto received 19,264 votes (62.04 percent) while Johnsen earned 11,787 votes (37.96 percent).

For Asciutto, this will be his second time as a county commissioner, having previously served on the board from 2012 to 2016.

Asciutto congratulated Johnsen on how hard he worked on his campaign, saying the two are good friends.

Moving forward, Asciutto said, will include dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic which he said is something “we will have to deal with for at least the next six to eight months.”

He added he would like to have someone from the county’s Health and Human Services Department at every meeting of the commissioners for up-to-date statistics and input “so the commissioners can work together on a plan to combat COVID in Stanly County.”

Asciutto also wants to spend one workday in each of the county’s departments as well as spend community workdays in various county industries and manufacturers, sharing information he learns with the public.

He also thanked everyone who came out and voted for he and Johnsen.

“The people have spoken,” Johnsen said.

He said in his analysis he knew it would be an uphill battle.

The COVID lockdown also did not allow him to host rallies or get out and campaign, he said.

“It is very difficult for an unaffiliated person to get elected, especially in a presidential election where the turnout was so big,” he said.

Johnsen said Asciutto was “a good guy” and added “I’m sure he’ll do a good job.”