Tuesday’s Primary Election was like no other. Due to restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, candidates had little in-person contact during the campaign season, yet 48 percent of registered voters (2,621 of 5,511) in Pocahontas County turned out to let their voices be heard. All voters in West Virginia were given the option of casting mail-in absentee ballots, and 1,327 went that route, while 221 opted for early voting at the courthouse. All precincts were open Tuesday, and 1,073 voters kept the tradition of “going to the polls.” Non-partisan contests were decided in this election: In the race for Magistrate – Division 1, incumbent Cynthia D. Broce- Kelly will get another term with 1,398 votes to 1,047 for her opponent, Doshia Webb. In the race for Magistrate – Division 2, three candidates threw their hats in the ring. Jennifer Dunz will be the new magistrate, winning that seat with 1,165 votes or 46.79 percent. Lois Starks-Wilfong garnered 780 votes while Dennis Wilfong received 544. The three seats on the Board of Education will be filled by Morgan McComb,1,269 votes; Jarrett McLaughlin, 1,518; and Sam Gibson, 1,457. McLaughlin and Gibson were unopposed in the Northern and Central Districts. In the Southern District, McComb ran against Norman E. (Joe) Walker, 1,163 votes; and Norman Alderman, 340. In the race for Prosecuting Attorney, Laura Finch moves to the General Election after gathering 720 votes, besting incumbent Eugene Simmons, who received 407. Finch will face off against Republican candidate Terri Workman-Helmick who recieved 1,052 votes. Full county election results can be found on our website, pocahontastimes.com
