By Marjorie Hopkins
Sullivan — For the second time in its traditionally Democratic history, Sullivan County voted Republican in the national election. Overall, Democrats saw unexpected upsets, incumbent Republicans lost a few offices, and voter turnout here was exceptionally high, as expected.
John McCain won by a small margin with 4,341 votes to Obama’s 4,282. Democrats won the governor’s race with Jill Long Thompson garnering 4,778 votes to Mitch Daniels’ 3,460 votes.
The Congressional 8th District went to incumbent Democrat Brad Ellsworth with 5,928 votes to Republican Greg Goode’s 2,747 votes.
In county elections Republicans won the Treasurer’s Office, with Beth (Ladson) Swall taking 4,804 votes to Marilyn S. Salesman’s 3,580 votes. Another closely watched contest was the County Commissioner’s race for District 3. Democrat John R. McCammon unseated incumbent Republican Carter Phegley, 4887 votes to 3,573. In District 2, Democrat Timothy W. Abrams won over Republican Brent L. McCammon, 4,992 to 3302. For County Council at large, three Democrats top vote totals: Timothy S. Boles, Richard D. Walters and incumbent Duane Wampler.
In school board elections, Northeast School Board District 1, Robb L. Hester (1,632) won over Nomran R. Santus (1,338). In Northeast District 4, Angela M. Grove (1,174) won over Richard T. Jones (1,057) and Dennis Walker (617). In Northeast District 5, results were: Angela M. Grove, 1,174; Richard T. Jones, 1,057; and Dennis Walker, 617. In Northeast District 5: F. Dane Strahle, 1,640; Belinda J Wrin, 1,211.
In the Southwest School Board District 2, L. June McCammon won with 2,587 votes to Barbara June Rotramel’s 588 votes. In Southwest District 3, the winner was Randy Huff with 2,768 votes to William “Bill” Springer’s 469 votes. And in Southwest, District 4 School Board elections, Jack Hamilton was unopposed.
Shortly after 5 p.m. there was no line at Sullivan County’s largest precinct, Hamilton 2, indicative of the rest of the county. Workers at Hamilton 2 reported that by 9:30 a.m., 160 people had voted. By 5 p.m. a total of 380 had made their way to the polls at Hamilton 2. Voting seemed to be down, workers said, but thought it was because of early voting at the courthouse.
Early voting in Sullivan County was high, according to Shelly Hiatt Parris, clerk of Sullivan Circuit Court. Normal early ballots cast usually total around 800 to 900. This year, 1,388 voted in person. That’s not counting the mail-outs and homebound votes.
“I’ve never seen that many voters lined up around the Rotunda,” Ann Walters said. Walters works in the County Assessor’s office and was talking about the past several days. She has worked at the courthouse for the past seven years.
Sullivan County has a population of around 20,000 with 13,874 active voters. The Clerk’s office shows a total of 1,608 inactive voters, which includes those registered but who haven’t voted in several years or have moved to a new location. Nearly 59 percent of registered voters or 8,995 cast ballots this election. Estimates indicate that usually around 35 to 38 percent of voters go to the polls in Sullivan County.
Race results
Contested Races
U. S. Rep. 8th
Brad Ellsworth (D) 5,928
Greg Goode (R) 2,747
State Rep. 45th
Rick Marshall (D) 4,391
Bruce Borders (R) 4,296
County Treasurer
Marilyn S. Salesman (D) 3,580
Beth (Ladson) Swalls (R) 4,804
County Commissioner
Timothy W. Abrams (D) 4,992
Brent L. McCammon (R) 3,302
County Commissioner
John R. McCammon (D) 4,887
Carter Phegley (R) 3,573
County Council At Large
Timothy S. Boles (D) 4,254
Richard D. Walters (D) 5,336
Duane Wampler (D) 4,929
Earle W. Hoesman (R) 3,262
Henry (Butch) Hayes (I) 2,693
NE School Board
Robb L. Hester 1,632
Norman R. Santus 1,338
NE School Board
Angeloa Grove 1,174
Richard T. Jones 1,057
Dennis Walker 617
NE School Board
F. Dane Strahle 1,640
Belinda J. Wrin 1,211
SW School Board
L. June McCammon 2,587
Barbara June Rotramel 1,956
SW School Board
Randy Huff 2,768
William Bill Springer 1,770
Uncontested
Circuit Court Judge
P.J. Pierson (D) 6,660
Superior Court Judge
Robert E. Springer (D) 6,215
County Coroner
Jeffrey D. Griffith (D) 6,161
County Surveyor
Frederick (Benji) Boyd II (D) 6,265
SW School Board
Jack Hamilton 3,666
