Melodie Phelps, News Editor
CNHI
5-25-10 — Ken Upchurch won the republican nomination for Wayne County
Judge-Executive in Tuesday's primary election. He defeated Jerry Sloan by
770 votes to win the party's nod and the right to face incumbent County
Judge-Executive Greg Rankin in the fall. Rankin was unopposed on the
democratic ticket in Tuesday's primary.
Upchurch received a total of 2,102 votes compared to 1,332 for Sloan.
In another close countywide race, Sheridan Wright defeated Janie Turner
for the republican nomination for Wayne County Clerk. Wright received 1,799
votes,while Turner garnered 1,541 votes.
Wright will face Josephine Gregory, a democrat who is currently serving
as interim Wayne County Clerk, in the fall.
The Wayne County Sheriff's race has also been set for the general
election. David Koontz won the republican party's nomination by a large
margin. Koontz received 2,431 votes. He defeated Billy Burke who received
385 votes and Grady Pyles who received 360 votes.
On the democratic side of the ticket, incumbent Sheriff Charles Boston
defeated challenger Eric Huffaker. Boston received 1,105, compared to 653
votes for Huffaker
Wayne County Jailer Ray C. Upchurch won the republican nomination for
that office defeating challenger Jerry Guinn in a close race. Upchurch
received 1,870 votes, compared to 1,730 votes for Guinn.
Upchurch will face democrat Danny Baker in the fall.
In the District One Magistrate's race, Ronnie Turner won the republican
party race by a slim 21 vote margin. He received 266 votes, Allen Hopper
received 245 votes, and Andrew Simpson received 130 votes.
On the democratic side of that race, incumbent Danny Bell defeated
challenger Shirley Garth for the party's nomination. Bell received 296
votes, while Garth received 178 votes.
In the District Two Magistrate's race, Roger Blevins was the top
vote-getter among a large slate of republican candidates. He received 246
votes. Other vote totals in that district were: Doug Acrey, 37; Kim Brake,
36; Jody Dishman, 97; Oren Stinson, 193; Barney Tom Denney, 121; Norman
Foster, 70; Jackie Gibbons, 153; and Danny Wallace, 31.
Blevins will face democratic winner Jeffrey Darrell Dishman who won his
race Tuesday with 265 votes. He defeated James Stinson, who received 45
votes, and Rick Thompson, who received 63 votes.
Incumbent Dale C. Vaughn won the republican race for District Three
Magistrate with a total of 466 votes. Ricky Worley received 266 votes and
Mark W. Abbott received 168 votes.
There is no democratic candidate on the ballot in District Three for
the fall election, but there is a democratic write-in candidate, Tony
Gregory, Jr., who has filed for the race.
In the District Four Magistrate's race, incumbent Richard R. Munsey
defeated Clifton New for the democratic nomination. Munsey received 408
votes, while New received 100 votes.
Munsey will face Troy Neal, a republican who was unopposed, in the fall
election.
Voters also made party decisions in three of the local constable races.
District One has only one candidate, Robert Riddle.
In District Two, Jamie Piercy was the top vote-getter among four
republican candidates to win the party's nomination. He received 266 votes.
Larry Dean Pyles received 235 votes, Mike Brown received 191 votes, and
Bobby Carrender received 99 votes.
Piercy will face Bobby K. Weston, the only democrat on the ticket, in
the fall.
In District Three, Kendall Tucker won the race and the seat with 409
votes. James Nevels received 153 votes, and James Lucian Morrow received 145
votes. There is no democratic opposition in that district.
In District Four, Ed L. Reynolds won the republican race and the seat
with 303 votes. Tyler Huff received 211 votes, and Curtis Lasley received
128 votes. There is no democratic candidate in the fall.
The top vote-getter in Wayne County for the District Judge's seat, 40th
Judicial District, Division One was Scarlett Latham who received 1,900 votes
locally. Larry Rogers received 1,811 votes and Athena Cooper received 753.
The Outlook was unable to provide complete vote totals for the judicial
district at press time.
For complete election results see next week's edition of The Outlook,
which will include recapitulation sheets for each of the county's 19
precincts.