The Pocahontas Times: Walker, Carr, Bennett elected to county offices

The Pocahontas Times: Walker, Carr, Bennett elected to county offices Image

Republican Jamie Walker will take a seat on the county commission come January 1 if unofficial election totals hold up after Monday's canvass.

Walker narrowly defeated Democrat J.L. Clifton 1,331 to 1,309.

But with 30 provisional ballots left to count and three absentee ballots not returned, the race may not be over with a margin of only 22 votes. the county commission will canvass the ballots Monday beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Democrats were successful in other county races with Connie Carr ( 1,170) defeating write-in candidate Carrie Wilfong (710), Republican Paul Barb (527) and Independent Jerry Ramos (296).

Missy Bennett handily defeated her Republican opponent mark Jonese 1,851 to 802.

For the House of Delegates, the county also liked Democrats Bill Hartman, the incumbent, who got 1,436, and Denise Campbell, who garnered 1,324 votes. Republican Joan Hinzman Sharp trailed with 1,228.

Hartman and Campbell were ahead in Randolph County, as well.

State Senator Walt Helmick won Pocahontas County by 773 votes, defeating Republican Jeremy Bauserman 1,725 to 952. Helmick will return to Charleston and his powerful Finance Committee chair position in January as he won district-wide 19,246 to 13,523.

Judge John Yoder was the county's other favorite Republican Tuesday, as he defeated Democrat Thomas McHugh here 1,254 to 1,120. With 93 percent of precincts reporting, McHugh was ahead of Yoder statewide by a narrow margin.

For all the national media hype that West Virginia might turn over the late Robert C. Byrd's seat to a Republican, popular Democratic Governor Joe Manchin defeated Republican challenger John Raese by more than 47,000 votes.

Manchin will fill the seat for two years for Byrd's unexpired term.

Democrat Nick Rahall, a winner in Pocahontas County, was also a winner in the third Congressional District, defeating former Supreme Court Judge Elliott "Spike" Maynard. Rahall got 1,559 votes here to Maynard's 1,106. With 94 percent of the precincts reporting, Rahall was ahead of Maynard by more than 16,000 votes.

More than half of Pocahontas County voters cast ballots in this election, 59.25 percent. Republicans cast 187 straight ticket ballots, Democrats 254 straight tickets and Mountain Party, 10.

County commissioners Martin Saffer and Reta Griffith were on hand for their duties to observe the incoming election results. Saffer said commissioner David Fleming "had other things to do" and had said that if the commission had a quorom, he would not be present.