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Voter turnout was large in local primary election Melodie Phelps News Editor Local elections usually mean large voter turnouts in Wayne County and Tuesday, May 16 was no exception. Approximately 50 percent of the registered voters went to the polls to cast ballots in several key county elections, including deciding party selections for County Judge-Executive. That was much better than the statewide average of about 20 percent, according to early estimates. Poll workers in Wayne County had only a few minor problems on Tuesday. County Court Clerk Carol Jones said that some of the precincts had problems getting the new handicapped machines open and ready to use that morning. And there were the usual problems that occur when people have moved, but haven't changed their address on the election rolls. Overall, Jones said things went fairly smoothly. The new handicapped machines changed the way the final tally was reached this year. Also, the traditional paper absentee ballots were counted differently, as the clerk's office utilized new scanners that electronically tabulated those results. In one of the most talked about local races this year, two political newcomers emerged from the field of candidates for Wayne County Judge Executive. Harlan Ogle defeated incumbent County Judge-Executive Bruce Ramsey in the republican race. Ogle received 2,429 votes, while Ramsey received 1,820 votes. Leland Harold Coomer received 184 votes in that race. "I am really pleased with the number of people who went and voted," said Ogle. "That was part of my campaign...to get people to participate in the process." Ogle also stated that he feels that voter interest will increase this fall in the general election. "I think that this fall we will see record numbers of people going out to vote," he stated. He expressed appreciation to the voters of Wayne County for their support. "I am very appreciative to what I believe was a grass roots effort on the part of the people to get out and vote," Ogle added. He plans to take a little time off before beginning his campaign for the fall general election, where he will face democratic nominee Greg Rankin. Rankin took a big win in last Tuesday's democratic primary with 1,169 votes. Dwight Dobbs received 527 votes and Shirley Artemis Mikel received 356 votes. "It feels good," Rankin said, when asked about his primary victory. "I appreciate everyone going out and voting." Rankin noted that he worked a very positive campaign this spring and he continues to that for the general election in the fall. "I plan to keep doing what I have been doing....telling people where I stand and where we need to go," said Rankin. He too plans to take a few days off after spending nearly four months campaigning. Rankin added that he plans to work hard to make sure even more people go to the polls in November. "The more people that vote the better we all are," he stated. Every vote definitely counted in the very close race for Wayne County Court Clerk. Melissa Turpin won the republican race and will be the next County Court Clerk. She received 2,297 votes to defeat Josephine Gregory, who received 2,211 votes. There is no democratic candidate for County Court Clerk. In the race for Wayne County Sheriff, incumbent James Lynn Hill won the republican nomination with 1,578 votes. Hill outdistanced five other candidates in that race including: Forrest Sexton, 1,116 votes; Robert Ellis, 1,070; Jackie Ray Dennis, 509; Bruce Dobbs, 155; and Larry Dean Pyles, 74. Hill will face democrat Charlie Boston in the general election this fall. Boston won the democratic race last week with 1,057 votes. Other results in that race were: Eric Huffaker, 662; and Tony Morris, 242. Wayne County Jailer Ray C. Upchurch won the republican nomination in his bid for re-election with 2,365 votes. He defeated former Wayne County Jailer Jerry Guinn, who received 2,093 votes. Upchurch will face democratic challenger Clyde Jeffrey Foust in the general election this fall. Also winning his re-election bid was Property Valuation Administrator Bobby Upchurch II, who received 3,480 votes in Tuesday's republican primary. Upchurch defeated challenger Greg West, who received 703 votes. There is no democratic candidate for PVA. Forrest Hicks will be Wayne County's next Coroner. He received 2,908 votes to defeat Mike Adams, who received 1,290 votes, in Tuesday's republican primary. Voters also made decisions in primary races in all four magisterial districts. Two of the three magistrates running for re-election this year won their primary races. In District One, Jerry Sloan won the republican race with 328 votes. Other republican results in that race were: Gene Jones, 253; David W. Jones, 252; and Thomas Young, 86. Sloan will face democrat Glen A. Parmley this fall. In the race for District Two Magistrate, Jess Jones won the republican primary race with 255 votes. Other results in that race were: Roger K. Blevins, 219; Rickey Sexton, 217; Tony Randall Bowlin, 208; Russell Pyles, 144; Barney Tom Denney, 113; Hershel Pyles, 81; Peggy Guffey, 42; Danny Wallace, 22; and Steve Phillips, 21. In the democratic race in District Two, Darrell G. Dishman was the winner with 361 votes. Don Gregory received 72 votes in that race. In District Three, incumbent Magistrate Ricky Worley was defeated by Dale Vaughn in the republican primary. Vaughn received 434 votes, compared to 244 for Worley. Other results in that race were: Mark Abbott, 124; Larry Muse, 95; Paul Decker, 85; Jarrod D. Criswell, 59; Floyd V. Jones, 58; Allen R. Vaughn, 31; and Brandon Pitman, 22. Robert A. Pitman was on the democratic primary race for District Three Magistrate. He received 234 votes, compared to Leroy Dawes who received 158 votes in the primary race. In District Four, James "Jim" Daniels won the republican race for magistrate with 285 votes. Other results from that primary were: Paul Flynn, 180; Bob R. Denney, 172; Larry Matthews, 122; Charles F. Newcomb, 67; Jason Coffey, 65; Lisa Bates Perkins, 61; Donald "Don" Kempton, 58; Micah Morrow, 47; and James Turner, 44. Daniels will face democrat Richard Lewis Munsey in the general election this fall. Munsey won the democratic primary with 350 votes. Other results from that primary race were: Christopher J. Phillips, 172; and Clayton Roberts, Jr., 130. In the race for District One Constable, Lewis Brumley won the democratic primary with 223 votes. Ronnie Rigney received 165 votes. There was only one republican candidate for District One Constable on the ballot, William B. Wallace. Grady Pyles received 580 votes to win the republican race for District Two Constable. Other results were: Timothy W. Bertram, 416; and Thomas Ferrell, 133. In the race for District Three Constable, Kendall L. Tucker received 523 votes to win the republican race. He defeated James Nevels who received 229 votes and Fred L. Maulden who received 91 votes. In District Four, Troy Hardwick received 676 votes in the republican race for constable. Curtis W. Lasley received 266 votes. State Senator David Williams took a large percentage of the republican vote in Wayne County Tuesday in his bid for re-election. Williams received 3,360 votes in Wayne County, outdistancing challengers Bob Devore, Jr., who received 257 votes, and Oline Carmical, Jr., who received 224 votes. Add a comment |
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