Published: May 14, 2008 01:53 am         

Hosey Dem nominee for Greenbrier sheriff

LEWISBURG — The closely watched race for sheriff in Greenbrier County saw a wealth of experience from four Democratic candidates.

With 36 of 36 precincts reporting late Tuesday, Bruce Hosey took the win with 2,263 followed by Albert Lyndsey with 2,127 votes. In third, incumbent Roger Sheppard tallied 1,811 votes.

Lyndsey, who has served as sheriff four separate terms, ran a campaign based on his 34 years of experience as a law enforcement officer.

Hosey, a newcomer to politics who recently retired from the county’s sheriff’s department, was optimistic about Tuesday’s vote totals.

“I’m very pleased with the progress of the voting so far. It shows the voters were eager for a change,” Hosey said at the courthouse Tuesday evening. “We will see if I am correct when all the precincts are in.”

Former county commissioner Steve Malcomb trailed all three candidates with 1,426 votes.

On the Republican side, Jim Childers, a retired West Virginia state trooper, garnered 1,318 votes with 30 of 36 precincts reporting.

In the race for prosecuting attorney, Martha Fleshman staged a late comeback to win with 2,709 votes. Lewisburg lawyer Douglas Arbuckle had led early but finished at 2,686. Two-term incumbent Kevin Hanson was in third with 1,949 votes.

Arbuckle, of Lewisburg, lost to Hanson in the Democratic primary in 2004. Fleshman, of Lewisburg, is an assistant prosecuting attorney in Monroe County.

For the Republicans, lone candidate Patrick Via, of Lewisburg, had tallied 1,283 votes with 36 of 36 precincts reporting.

— E-mail:

cgiggenbach@register-herald.com