Published: May 15, 2008 08:41 pm         

Interest in races spurs big turnout for election

Newcomers score upsets in several county races

Political newcomers took several seats in the May 13 primary election, in which voters cast their votes within their own parties to select the party nomination for the November general election.

Voter turnout was high, according to Wyoming County Clerk Mike Goode. He added there was a lot of interest in several of the races.

Newcomer Jason Mullins upset long-time Commissioner Harold Hayden in his bid to keep his seat.

Mullins took a commanding early lead and held it throughout the evening.

“I just want to thank everyone who supported me over the last few months,” Mullins said. “I look forward to getting started. I plan to work hard.”

With 36 of 36 precincts reporting, Mullins had 3,534 votes; Hayden had 2,475.

There were no Republicans on the ballot.

Another upset came when political newcomer Linda Phillips and Daniel Hall took the two Democratic nominations for the House of Delegates seats for the 22nd district, defeating incumbent Mike Burdiss. The district includes all 36 precincts in Wyoming County, six precincts in McDowell, and eight in Mercer County.

Phillips had 3,614 votes; Hall took 2,288.

Bruce Williams followed closely with 2,101 votes; Burdiss had 1,997; Morgan “Mike” Davis took 1,868; and Marty Ashley pulled up the rear with 907.

“I’m humbled and so thrilled that the voters of District 22 have confidence in me,” Phillips said. “I will work to repay them.”

Phillips will become only the second woman to hold the post.

“Mae Belcher was the first and that’s some big shoes to fill,” Phillips said.

“I’m obviously very honored by this,” Hall said. “I want to congratulate Linda on her win. The other candidates ran a good race.

“I’m looking forward to getting something done for the district,” Hall emphasized.

“We’ve had some excellent candidates in this race, who’ve worked extremely hard,” Williams emphasized.

The other House seat is held by Richard Browning, who ran for the state Senate. Browning was unopposed on the ticket for the District 9 seat that serves both Wyoming and Raleigh counties.

One of the closest races was for the assessor’s seat now held by Mike W. Cook, who was also upset.

The challengers Mike E. Cook and Earl Mongeni battled with the incumbent throughout the evening. At one time or other through the evening, each one held the lead for a time.

Mike E. Cook took the Democratic nomination with 2,265 votes. Earl Mongeni had 2,048; followed by Mike W. Cook with 1,660.

“Out of the 107 days available since January, I’ve campaigned every day,” said Mike E. Cook Tuesday night. “I’ve been in every part of the county and met a lot of nice people.”

Cook will face Peni Adams, the lone Republican on the primary ticket for assessor, in the November general election. She had 556 votes.

The sheriff’s race pitted three candidates, including current Chief Deputy Randall Aliff, former magistrate Wilburn Bolt, and Thomas Wilson.

Bolt took the early lead, but Aliff pulled ahead, then held it.

“I’m very humbled by this,” Aliff said. “I’m just tickled to death with the trust the citizens seem to have in us at the Sheriff’s Department.

“I’ll certainly do my best and continue to work on these drug problems,” Aliff said.

Aliff took 3,263 votes; Bolt had 2,472; and Wilson garnered 450 votes.

Current Sheriff C.S. Parker cannot seek a third consecutive term, but will serve as Aliff’s chief deputy. Parker served as Aliff’s chief deputy when Aliff served as sheriff prior to Parker’s back-to-back terms.

Another neck-and-neck race was for the three magistrate seats. Newcomer Kim Farmer, a deputy magistrate for more than two decades, took the final lead, but incumbent Craig Cook had held the early lead. The third place was held by incumbent J.R. Boles, closely followed by Tommy Daniels, then Pamela England Trent, David Kidd, and Michael Lawson.

Farmer took 3,508 votes; Cook had 2,367; Boles garnered 2,025; followed by Daniels with 1,941 votes; Kidd with 1,904; Trent, 1,627; Lawson, 890.

Gerald Jackson was the only Republican on the ballot; he had 691 votes.

“I’m just overwhelmed,” Farmer said.

Farmer is the first woman elected to serve a full term.

“I appreciate all the support from all the people, because without them I wouldn’t be here,” Farmer emphasized.

Current magistrate John Daniels is retiring. Incumbent J.R. Boles was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Butch Carte following his death. Wilburn Bolt’s unexpired term is being filled by Craig Cook; Bolt resigned to run for sheriff.

Warren McGraw held the lead for circuit judge and was challenged by current Prosecutor Todd Houck.

McGraw had 3,706 votes; Houck earned 2,399.

“We’re happy things turned out the way they did,” McGraw said, noting he is looking for success in the general election.

“I expect to dispense justice fairly and impartially.”

Rick Staton had the lead for the prosecutor’s seat at the half-way point, followed closely by political newcomer D.J. Morgan and Sonny Boninsegna Jr. The race had went back and forth among the candidates early in the evening.

Staton took 2,422 votes; Morgan had 1,887; and Boninsegna garnered 1,710.

“I’m elated,” Staton said, “and excited about the opportunities.”

Staton said he will work to eradicate the drug problem, just as he pledged during his campaign, and will spend the next seven months, because he is unopposed in the general election, learning from other prosecutors in an effort to be more responsive to the public.

“We have a great staff here in the prosecutor’s office and I look forward to working with them,” Staton said.

The deadline to register to vote in the general election is Oct. 14; the general election will be conducted Nov. 4.

In the non-partisan board of education race, incumbent Mike Prichard held the lead, followed by incumbents Robert Toler and Perry Cook, with newcomer Curtis Lovejoy trailing slightly. In early returns, Lovejoy had enough votes for one of the three seats, though that changed as the evening progressed.

With 36 of 36 precincts reporting, Prichard, District II, had 4,344 votes; Cook, District III, had 3,919; Toler, District I, took 3,467; Lovejoy, District II, ended with 2,805.

“I’m thankful the voters had enough confidence in me to let me continue,” said Mike Prichard. “I’ll continue to do my best as I’ve done in the past.”

Board of education winners will take office July 1.