Staff Writer
The Tribune-Star
BRAZIL —
Clay County voter participation neared 26 percent Tuesday, as officials hope for a stronger turnout in the fall.
According to information provided by the Clay County Clerk’s office, 4,884 voters turned out for the May Primary, representing 25.91 percent of 18,851 registered voters.
Clerk Vicki Wheeler said the turnout was low, but not unpredictably so considering it was a primary.
“Everything went very, very smoothly today. Kind of slow though,” she said.
Contested races in the Democrat ticket’s race for county county at-large were expected to draw in the voters, she had stated earlier in the spring. Tuesday evening, she said overall participation was pretty normal. The presidential race in November, in which Democrat Barack Obama will most likely face Republican Mitt Romney, is expected to liven up the process, she said.
“I think so. I really do think it’ll be a better turn-out in the fall,” she remarked after the tabulations were complete for the evening.
Election totals are unofficial until certified by the Clay County Election Board by noon on May 18.
Republican Party
County Surveyor
Rustina Johnson 610
John R. Keller 2,097
County Council At-Large
Patricia (Pat) Hefner 2,188
John Nicoson 2,114
Lisa D. Rickert 1,749
Democrat Party
County Commissioner 2nd District
Charles (Charlie) Brown 907
Michael L. (Mike) Wilkinson 726
County Council At-Large
Chip Hoskins 928
Dolores Johnson 961
Roger Laplante 404
William (Bill) Lovett 792
Michael McCullough 1,239
