Brian Boyce
The Tribune-Star
BRAZIL —
A massive turnout by Clay County voters had general election participation nearing 60 percent by the final unofficial count.
Clay County Clerk Vickie Wheeler said about 9:15 p.m. that a mechanical problem with one of the machines had the process halted with just 40 ballots left uncounted. Of the county’s 23 precincts, a full 22 had been processed, but the remaining few won’t be tallied until later this week, she said.
All ballot counts Tuesday night are unofficial until certified by the Clay County Election Board.
Still, 11,089 of the county’s 19,109 registered voters participated in this general election, making for a turnout of 58.03 percent. Of that number, 2,544 voted absentee. Three voters chose a straight ticket ballot for the Libertarian Party, compared to 925 who did likewise for the Democrats and 1,221 for Republicans.
Clay County chose Republican Mitt Romney for the president with 64.58 percent of the vote compared to Democrat incumbent Barack Obama’s 33.17. Libertarian Gary Johnson received 2.07 percent. For the U.S. Senate, local voters sent Republican Richard Mourdock 50.43 percent of the vote over Democrat Joe Donnelly’s 42.41 percent and 7.12 percent for Libertarian Andrew Horning. Republican Mike Pence garnered 50.98 percent of the county’s vote for governor, over Democrat John Gregg’s 43.8 percent and Libertarian Rupert Boneham’s 5.21 percent.
Wheeler said lines at the polls were steady all day.
“The president probably brought that in, but our judges really brought the voters in too,” she said, noting two judge positions were contested this year.
Judge of the Circuit Court
James Edward Deal (R) - 4,273
Joseph D. Trout (D) - 6,408
Judge of the Superior Court
Robert Alex Pell (R) - 5,218
J. Blaine Akers (D) - 5,497
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Uncontested
Victoria J. (Vickie) Wheeler (R) - 8,522
Recorder
Uncontested
Joseph Mark Dierdorf (D) - 8,018
Coroner
Joel R. Reinoehl (R) - 6,613
Amy J. (Solomon) Shelton (D) - 3,901
Surveyor
John R. Keller (R) - 6,598
Frank E. Beasley (D) - 3,835
Commissioner District 1
Bryan K. Allender (R) - 5,352
Jack Withers (D) - 5,163
Commissioner District 2
Tony A. Fenwick (R) - 5,867
Charles (Charlie) Brown (D) - 4,750
County Council At-Large
(Vote for 3)
Patricia (Pat) Heffner (R) - 6,032
John Nicoson (R) - 5.222
Lisa D. Rickert (R) - 4,103
Chip Hoskins (D) - 4,682
Dolores Johnson (D) - 4,030
Michael McCullough (D) - 5,547
Clay Community School Board District 1
Tina R. Heffner - 1,046
Kevin K. Kumpf - 1,131
Theodore R. Paris - 341
Clay Community School Board District 2
Jennifer Kaelber - 1,073
Gary D. Rickert - 556
Clay Community School Board District 3
Tammy Lynn Beasley - 838
Thomas Keith Reberger - 1,352
Clay Community School Board District 4
Forrest R. Buell - 1,059
Stanley F. (Fred) Froderman - 1,468
Jason Moon - 514
MSD of Shakamak, Board of Trustees District 1
Uncontested
Jeffery B. Miller - 460
MSD of Shakamak, Board of Trustees District 3
No candidate
