May 12, 2010
Cabell Primary Voters Didn’t Toss Out Incumbents Or Vote Down Levies
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – An upset in the First District Congressional Primary did not carry over into Cabell County, where generally incumbents and levies fared well. Alan Mollohan (D-WV) lost in the primary after a 28 year run in Congress. Mike Oliverio now faces David McKinley ( R), a former state Republican party chairman, for the first district seat.
Attorney and former aide to Rep. Shelly Moore Capito, Conrad Lucas took his home county by 1,000 votes over another Cabell County competitor, Lee Bias. However, the margin was not enough to overcome district wide results which pitted them against former Democrat “Spike” Maynard and Marty Gearheart. Just after 1 a.m. based on unofficial returns, Maynard won with 4,995 votes to Gearheart’s 4563, Lucas picked up 4,185 and Bias’ 2,860.
CABELL BOARD OF EDUCATION
Bessie Holley, who replaced Ted Barr as Cabell County School Board President, failed in her bid to retain her seat. Both Barr and Holley had been the most vocal on their preference for filling the unexpired term of Greg Borowski who resigned last spring. The standoff nearly sent the matter to the State as neither Barr nor Holley would waver. Eventually, Mary Neely became the compromise replacement. Ironically, she has proven herself to voters running first in the contest with 4,851 votes. Incumbent Mary Alice Freeman came in second with 4,639, then Bennie Thomas 4,517 and Garland “Skip” Parsons 4,393.
Neely has been a member of Huntington City Council and was a city employee for 34 years.
Freeman, a retired middle school principal and former substitute teacher, had been appointed to fill Barr’s seat following his death. Thomas retains his seat and Parsons (a former school maintenance worker) replaces Holley on the board. Suzanne McGinnis Oxley’s seat was not up for election this year.
Susan Gillette and Jonathan Nance formed a slate opposed to the consolidation of Enslow/Beverly Hills Middle Schools at the site behind Prestera, formerly known as University Heights. They finished sixth and eighth respectively in a field of nine candidates.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT LEVY
Although an election official remarked that the approval percentages on all the levies in Cabell County took a dip, the nail biter proved to be one which pitted smokers against non-smokers. The expansion of a smoking restriction to bars and lottery game rooms had triggered an organized campaign by impacted business owners to demonstrate disapproval by voting against the Health Department levy.
Needing 60% of the vote to pass, the levy finished with 61.60. However, with 83% of the votes counted, the levy had a thin 60.5% in favor.
Cabell Huntington Health Department Director Dr. Harry Tweel explained that the services of the health department were “vital” and seemed relieved after overcoming the hurdle of what he termed “well organized opposition.” Conceding the smoking restriction has been “one of the toughest” issues he’s faced as director of the health department, the physician who had for 43 years practiced pulmonary and critical care medicine , asserted the opposition was “not the toughest” challenge faced in his career.
Declining to “predict the mind of the voter” except for “opposition from the clean indoor air” expansion, Dr. Tweel ventured that a “negative feeling towards government,” which has permeated state and national movements, may have also impacted the Health Department levy and other levies , which were approved at lower percentages than previous years.
When asked about pulling the community back on the same page with the Health Department missions, Dr. Tweel stressed, “We are the 19th county in West Virginia to do this and one of over 3,000 cities and several states” to enforce clean indoor air emissions. “As you know, I object to the term smoking ban, we’re not prohibition, they can still smoke. We are trying to protect those who do not smoke.”
He told another reporter that he was sorry this became a one issue campaign and hopes everyone will now move on to the greater purpose of protecting the health of county residents.
COUNTY CLERK
The Democrat/Democrat race for County Clerk between incumbent Karen Cole and City Councilman Scott Caserta ended with Ms. Cole 5,252 to 1,682.
Caserta issued the following statement, “Team Caserta ran a good, clean campaign to be proud of and brought about a lot of change to the clerk's office. I made some lifelong friends along the way and it turned out to be a Win-Win situation for me. Thanks for everyone's support and hard work, and we'll be back.”
COUNTY COMMISSION
Democratic incumbent Scott Bias had two contenders for his seat --- Michael Maxey and Irv Johnson. Bias prevailed over Maxey 2,924 to 2,234. Johnson received 1,853 votes.
Bias told HNN that he has “ a great deal of respect for his opponents and how hard they worked.” He complimented both opponents for “running a good solid race” and “sticking to the issues. Competition is healthy. I appreciate them, but I’m happy to have won.” He will now face Ann Morton Yon ( R ) in the November primary.
CABELL MAGISTRATE
The Democratic ticket attracted seven candidates, including Dan Goheen , who had been appointed to fill out the term of Don Maynard. Goheen received 35% of the Democratic vote (2,469). Danne J. Vance and former long-time magistrate John Ray Rice claimed 17% of the vote with 1,223 and 1,207 respectively.
Goheen said he will continue to “work hard at it,” “stay the same person I am” and continue “ doing what needs to be done” without “changing my values in any way, shape or form.” He added, “ I’ll listen to those who have been there, [follow the law] and continue to value the judgments [I make].”
He will face Paul Harvey who bested Teresa L. Beter 1,854 to 1,482 on the Republican side to complete the final two years of Maynard’s term.
Goheen had previously entered two Democratic primaries. He placed eighth in both instances where the top seven candidates advanced to the general election.
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Cabell Primary Voters Didn’t Toss Out Incumbents Or Vote Down Levies
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – An upset in the First District Congressional Primary did not carry over into Cabell County, where generally incumbents and levies fared well. Alan Mollohan (D-WV) lost in the primary after a 28 year run in Congress. Mike Oliverio now faces David McKinley ( R), a former state Republican party chairman, for the first district seat.
Attorney and former aide to Rep. Shelly Moore Capito, Conrad Lucas took his home county by 1,000 votes over another Cabell County competitor, Lee Bias. However, the margin was not enough to overcome district wide results which pitted them against former Democrat “Spike” Maynard and Marty Gearheart. Just after 1 a.m. based on unofficial returns, Maynard won with 4,995 votes to Gearheart’s 4563, Lucas picked up 4,185 and Bias’ 2,860.
CABELL BOARD OF EDUCATION
Bessie Holley, who replaced Ted Barr as Cabell County School Board President, failed in her bid to retain her seat. Both Barr and Holley had been the most vocal on their preference for filling the unexpired term of Greg Borowski who resigned last spring. The standoff nearly sent the matter to the State as neither Barr nor Holley would waver. Eventually, Mary Neely became the compromise replacement. Ironically, she has proven herself to voters running first in the contest with 4,851 votes. Incumbent Mary Alice Freeman came in second with 4,639, then Bennie Thomas 4,517 and Garland “Skip” Parsons 4,393.
Neely has been a member of Huntington City Council and was a city employee for 34 years.
Freeman, a retired middle school principal and former substitute teacher, had been appointed to fill Barr’s seat following his death. Thomas retains his seat and Parsons (a former school maintenance worker) replaces Holley on the board. Suzanne McGinnis Oxley’s seat was not up for election this year.
Susan Gillette and Jonathan Nance formed a slate opposed to the consolidation of Enslow/Beverly Hills Middle Schools at the site behind Prestera, formerly known as University Heights. They finished sixth and eighth respectively in a field of nine candidates.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT LEVY
Although an election official remarked that the approval percentages on all the levies in Cabell County took a dip, the nail biter proved to be one which pitted smokers against non-smokers. The expansion of a smoking restriction to bars and lottery game rooms had triggered an organized campaign by impacted business owners to demonstrate disapproval by voting against the Health Department levy.
Needing 60% of the vote to pass, the levy finished with 61.60. However, with 83% of the votes counted, the levy had a thin 60.5% in favor.
Cabell Huntington Health Department Director Dr. Harry Tweel explained that the services of the health department were “vital” and seemed relieved after overcoming the hurdle of what he termed “well organized opposition.” Conceding the smoking restriction has been “one of the toughest” issues he’s faced as director of the health department, the physician who had for 43 years practiced pulmonary and critical care medicine , asserted the opposition was “not the toughest” challenge faced in his career.
Declining to “predict the mind of the voter” except for “opposition from the clean indoor air” expansion, Dr. Tweel ventured that a “negative feeling towards government,” which has permeated state and national movements, may have also impacted the Health Department levy and other levies , which were approved at lower percentages than previous years.
When asked about pulling the community back on the same page with the Health Department missions, Dr. Tweel stressed, “We are the 19th county in West Virginia to do this and one of over 3,000 cities and several states” to enforce clean indoor air emissions. “As you know, I object to the term smoking ban, we’re not prohibition, they can still smoke. We are trying to protect those who do not smoke.”
He told another reporter that he was sorry this became a one issue campaign and hopes everyone will now move on to the greater purpose of protecting the health of county residents.
COUNTY CLERK
The Democrat/Democrat race for County Clerk between incumbent Karen Cole and City Councilman Scott Caserta ended with Ms. Cole 5,252 to 1,682.
Caserta issued the following statement, “Team Caserta ran a good, clean campaign to be proud of and brought about a lot of change to the clerk's office. I made some lifelong friends along the way and it turned out to be a Win-Win situation for me. Thanks for everyone's support and hard work, and we'll be back.”
COUNTY COMMISSION
Democratic incumbent Scott Bias had two contenders for his seat --- Michael Maxey and Irv Johnson. Bias prevailed over Maxey 2,924 to 2,234. Johnson received 1,853 votes.
Bias told HNN that he has “ a great deal of respect for his opponents and how hard they worked.” He complimented both opponents for “running a good solid race” and “sticking to the issues. Competition is healthy. I appreciate them, but I’m happy to have won.” He will now face Ann Morton Yon ( R ) in the November primary.
CABELL MAGISTRATE
The Democratic ticket attracted seven candidates, including Dan Goheen , who had been appointed to fill out the term of Don Maynard. Goheen received 35% of the Democratic vote (2,469). Danne J. Vance and former long-time magistrate John Ray Rice claimed 17% of the vote with 1,223 and 1,207 respectively.
Goheen said he will continue to “work hard at it,” “stay the same person I am” and continue “ doing what needs to be done” without “changing my values in any way, shape or form.” He added, “ I’ll listen to those who have been there, [follow the law] and continue to value the judgments [I make].”
He will face Paul Harvey who bested Teresa L. Beter 1,854 to 1,482 on the Republican side to complete the final two years of Maynard’s term.
Goheen had previously entered two Democratic primaries. He placed eighth in both instances where the top seven candidates advanced to the general election.
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