Jaynell Graham
Editor
It was a quick night for election results in Pocahontas County as the polls closed at 7:30 p.m., and the first precinct reported in at 7:57. All precinct results were in the courtroom before 9 p.m.
Overall voter turnout for the Primary Election was just 38 percent.
Nearly 60 percent of the 2,293 registered Republicans; 48 percent of the 1,545 registered Democrats; 5.56 percent of the 18 registered Mountain Party; and 2.5 percent of the 1,747 ot those registered Non-Partisan cast their votes.
In the County Commission race, Republican candidate Thane Ryder ended the night with 711 votes to Timothy Helmick’s 561. Democrat candidate Jay Miller, who ran unopposed, received 465 votes.
For Prosecuting Attorney on the Democrat ticket, Laura M. Kershner received 385 votes to Joni O’ Neal Nichols’ 289. No candidate filed on the Republican ticket.
Troy McCoy, Democrat candidate for sheriff, was unopposed, and received 598 votes.
Keneth “Buster” Varner was unopposed in the sheriff’s race on the Republican ticket. He received 712 votes.
Johnny Pritt, incumbent Republican candidate for Assessor was unopposed, and received 1,080 votes. No candidate filed on the Democrat side.
Non-partisan races are determined in the primary, and the successful candidates will take office July 1, 2024.
Incumbent Cynthia D. Broce-Kelley was unopposed for Magistrate, Division I, and received 1,602 votes.
In the race for Magistrate – Division II, incumbent Jennifer Dunz received 1,259 votes to Mark Thompson’s 739.
In the Board of Education race, Sam Gibson and Emery Grimes were the two top vote getters, Gibson with 1,169 and Grimes with 972. Dawn Baldwin Barrett was a close third with 954 votes.
Timothy VanReenen was elected to another term as Conservation District Supervisor.
Donald McNeel will fill the unexpired term of Conservation District Supervisor. McNeel received 1,063 votes to 875 for Michelle D. Wilfong.
The Board of Ballot Commissioners will convene Monday, May 20, at 9 a.m. in the commission room on the first floor of the courthouse to canvass the results of the election.
