Pocahontas County had an overall voter turnout of 52.68 percent for the May 10 Primary Election.
The results from Precinct 10 – Marlinton – were at the courthouse shortly after 8 p.m., followed by a steady stream of poll workers from around the county, until numbers from all 15 precincts had been tallied.
The Board of Ballot Commissioners finished its work shortly after 10:30 p.m.
Unfortunately results beyond Pocahontas County were not available at press time, as the Secretary of State’s office was experiencing problems with its Election Results Center website, which, at 11:30 p.m. reported results for only one county in the state.
Here at home:
Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Donald Trump carried the county in the presidential primary race, and were on target to win statewide.
Several candidates were unopposed in their particular races, and will move on to the General Election without fanfare.
Bill Cole was unopposed on the Republican ticket for Governor, while Jim Justice carried Pocahontas County on the Democrat side with 963 votes or 57.5 percent. Booth Goodwin came in with 448 votes, followed by Jeff Kessler at 263. Although the SOS website was down, the New York Times declared Justice to be the winner in the Democratic gubernatorial race.
In the House of Delegates 43rd District, Republicans Clayton D. Moore finished the night with 630 votes and Phillips Bruce Kolsun gained 337.
In the Democrat race for the House, incumbent Bill Hartman led the pack in this county with 971 votes, followed by Margaret Kerr Beckwith with 492, Jonathan B. Kyle with 466 and Phil Isner with 401. Numbers from other counties in the 43 District were unavailable. Two delegates will be elected in the fall.
Jamie Walker was unopposed on the Republican ballot in the Pocahontas County Commission race. On the Democrat side, Jesse A. Groseclose finished the night with 955 votes or 56.11 percent, followed by Ben Wilfong with 486 and Jo Debra Galford Gandee with 261.
In the Prosecuting Attorney race, incumbent Eugene Simmons garnered 63.82 percent of the vote with 1,030, while his opponent Bob Martin finished with 584.
In the Democratic race for Sheriff, Troy McCoy drew 60 percent of the vote for a total of 976, while Jerry Dale finished the evening with 650 votes. On the Republican side, Jeff Barlow took 83.07 percent or 834 votes, while David Warner finished with 170.
Incumbent Tom Lane handily defeated Harvey Galford in the Assessor race, 1,310 votes to 315.
Winners for several non-partisan offices were decided in this election:
In Division I of the 11th Circuit, sitting Judge Robert E. Richardson won big in the county with 53.62 percent or 1,332 votes to Steve Hunter’s 769 and Britt Ludwig’s 383.
In Division II of the 11th Circuit, Jennifer Dent took 46.74 percent of the vote at 1,168, while Fred Giggenbach, Jr. drew 949 votes and Jeffrey S. Rodgers ended with 381.
Again, numbers were not available from other counties in the circuit at press time.
In the race for Pocahontas County Magistrate Division I, incumbent Cynthia Broce-Kelley kept her office with 1,630 votes to challenger Randall Irvine’s 927.
In Division II, incumbent Carrie Wilfong gained another term with 1,052 votes, while her three challengers split 1,667 votes – Robert (Robbie) Sharp with 758, Tanner D. Graham with 594 and Donna Meadows Price with 315.
In the Board of Education race, Joe Walker, 1,213, and Rebecca Campbell, 1,004, were the top vote getters, followed by H. Sam Gibson with 905 votes, Thomas Barnisky at 750, Norman Lee Alderman with 356 votes, Lynn Jordan with 305, and Michael Vance with 225.
Election results are unofficial until the Board of Ballot Commissioners convenes Monday, May 16, at 9 a.m. in the county commission room to canvass the results.
