2008 Primary Precinct by Precinct results
In a county where close races are standard, Tuesday’s election produced mostly lopsided victories for incumbents and for sheriff candidate Donnie Craig.
Incumbents Rob Jones, commissioner; Kevin Roper, coroner; Gail Brown, clerk of court and Magistrate Judge Larry Ray all took 60 percent or more of the ballots in the Republican Primary.
There were no local races on the Democrat side.
Donnie Craig won a commanding number of votes in the primary election for Pickens County Sheriff, narrowly missing a victory without a runoff.
Craig received 46.8 percent of the votes. He will face Britt Massey in the August 5 runoff.
Massey was second with 26.8 percent of the vote. Allen Wigington trailed Massey by just over 100 votes, knocking him out of the runoff.
Craig received 2,799 votes, Massey 1,603 and Wigington 1,490.
Following the results, Craig said, considering the quality of his opponents, he was surprised and humbled by the margin of his victory.
Craig attributed his success “to getting out with the people. Meeting with them. I went out every single day and knocked on doors and talked to them.”
Taking 61 percent of the total votes, Commissioner Rob Jones said he was “satisfied” that the people saw what he has accomplished and the direction he has worked to move the county in the three and half years he has held the job.
Jones defeated rival Bill Newton 3,620 to 2,291.
“The people of Pickens County spoke to the fact that I’m trying to do a good job. I’m trying to bring the county forward,” he said.
Jones said he hoped that he had gotten the support based on what he has done and what he is trying to accomplish.
Jones will face independent Vince McPherson in the November general election.
Former Commissioner Bill Newton said he had tried to present an alternative, but the voters were obviously satisfied with the current administration.
“The people of Pickens County must be happy with they’ve got," he said. "That’s why we have votes.”
Newton who lost to Jones by 19 votes four years ago, said this would be his last foray into politics.
Coroner Kevin Roper who took a landslide 81.88 percent of the vote said he took it as a sign that people recognize that operates the office with dignity and respect.
Roper noted that this marks the first time that a coroner in Pickens County has faced competition in both a primary and general election. Roper with face independent Lonnie Waters in the November general election.
“Running two campaigns takes a lot of time,” he said. “I appreciate all the people who have supported me.”
In other races:
• Incumbent Clerk of Court Gail Brown defeated challenger Tammy Jarrett. Brown took 4012 votes (69 percent) to Jarrett’s 1,721 (30 percent).
• Incumbent Magistrate Larry Ray took 4,009 votes (69.49 percent) to defeat Randall Young with 1,760 votes (30.5 percent).
In a non-binding question, Pickens County showed a clear preference for a multi man commission.
On the Democratic ballot, 278 people (78 percent) said they preferred a multi-man over a sole commissioner to 76 people who said they wanted to stay with a sole commissioner.
On the Republican ballot, 3,508 people (59 percent) said they preferred a multi-man over a sole commissioner to 2,344 people who said they wanted to stay with a sole commissioner.
Commissioner Rob Jones said seeing the preference for the multi-man commission will be an issue that either he or Mr. McPherson will have to get rolling with paperwork and planning after the first of the year.
With all the local races on the Republican side, Pickens continued a trend of almost complete one-party action with 354 casting multi-man commission ballots in the Democrat side and 5,852 casting ballots on the Republican side.
Overall there was a 40 percent turnout.
|
|
