by Kate Shunney
Voters in Morgan County turned out in modest numbers for the May 12 primary election in this mid-term season, casting ballots during 10 days of early voting and on Tuesday, May 12 at 13 precincts around Morgan County on a clear and sunny day.
According to preliminary election results reported by the Morgan County Clerk’s office around 10 p.m. on election night, just 3,027 ballots were cast during the primary election. With 14,030 registered voters in the county, that accounts for a turnout of just 21.6% of voters.
That turnout mimics the voter turnout across West Virginia. Secretary of State Kris Warner reported a 21% voter participation rate across all counties.
At the local level, this election’s non-partisan ballot included three seats for the Morgan County Board of Education, the renewal of the school’s special levy for another four years, the election of a Morgan County Magistrate and a Conservation District Supervisor.
Voters back levy
Local voters backed the special school levy 1,596 to 1,133, with 58.5% of ballots in favor of the county tax, which accounts for 18% of the overall Morgan County Schools budget. That tax will renew for another four years. It has been in place for more than 70 years to fund local school programs and staff.
“The school board greatly appreciates the citizens continued support of education. We are looking forward to continuing to be good stewards of the funds going forward,” said school board member Laura Smith and Superintendent David Banks in a joint statement on election night.
“Although campaigning for the levy is time-consuming, we enjoy educating the community on how well the students of Morgan County are doing and listening to the community’s feedback,” they said.
The levy funds salary enhancements for school personnel, technology devices for students, alternative education and career programs, textbooks and classroom supplies, library support and facilities maintenance.
Litten & Smith re-elected
Voters favored incumbents Laura Smith and Justin Litten in the school board race, and chose Pam Hessler for an open seat in a what would be a tight four-way race to the top.
Litten was the top vote-getter with 1,463 votes, followed by Smith with 1,440 votes and Hessler with 1,244. Running a very close fourth was candidate Ronald Stotler, who came in close to the mark with 1,176 votes.
Laurie Dieffenbach earned 496 votes in her race for the school board, followed by Alice Lantz with 460 votes and John Kannofsky with 270 votes.
Smith, Litten and Hessler will take office on July 1.
Hessler, a newcomer to elected office, said she was humbled by the support of voters.
“There’s a fantastic team already there at the school board. I want to listen, learn and ask questions, and keep fiscal responsibility as well as students and staff at the forefront,” said Hessler.
Shambaugh as Magistrate
Current Magistrate Vince Shambaugh was elected to a full term on the bench with 1,540 votes in a race against Michael Sullivan, who earned 1,253 votes.
Shambaugh, a former Morgan County Sheriff, was appointed to his seat on the Magistrate Court two years ago when K.C. Bohrer declined to take office. This will be Shambaugh’s first elected term on the court.
Tuttle is GOP nominee
In the county’s party primary, Morgan County Commission President Joel Tuttle came out ahead as the Republican nominee for Commission after a GOP challenge by Berkeley Springs businesswoman Priscilla Jones.
Tuttle earned 58.4% of the vote during the Republican primary, rolling up 1,104 votes. Jones took in 787 votes during the primary run.
In November, Tuttle will face Democrat Judith Shumate on the general election ballot. Shumate was unopposed in her party primary and brought in 605 votes.
Adam Cook of Berkeley Springs won his post as Eastern Panhandle Conservation District Supervisor with 60% of the vote, topping Nelson Jacobsen.
District incumbents survive
In district races, Morgan County voters backed Republican incumbent Delegate George Miller and State Senator Darren Thorne in their party primaries.
Delegate David Cannon, representing the 89th district, was unopposed in his Republican election campaign. Cannon will face Democrat J.P Hepworth in the general election. Hepworth won the Democratic nomination with 63.6% of the vote, topping Great Cacapon resident John Zupan in the primary race.
George Miller fought off three challengers in his GOP primary, winning the Republican nomination with 45% of the Morgan County vote, topping Dr. Kevin McLaughlin, Dan Caldwell and Davy Jones.
District-wide, Miller pulled in 38.6% of ballots. McLaughlin earned 26.9% of the vote district-wide, Caldwell brought in 18.5% of the vote and Jones pulled in 15.9% of the district vote.
In November, George Miller will face Democrat Ashley Braner of Hedgesville in a race for the 90th district seat.
In the State Senate 15th district race, Thorne brought in 4,190 votes — 55.3% of the vote. Ken Reed collected 35.5% of the vote across the 15th district and Robert Wolford picked up 9% of the GOP primary vote total.
Thorne will face Democrat and Morgan County resident Elizabeth Ferris on the November ballot. Ferris picked up 3,303 votes across the district in her bid for the Democratic nomination.
Federal, statewide races
While Morgan County voters favored Tom Willis in the six-way GOP primary for U.S. Senator, in the end incumbent Shelley Moore Capito fought off all of her challengers to emerge as the Republican nominee for the November election. According to preliminary vote totals from across the state, Capito pulled in 66% of the vote, topping Willis who earned 19% of Republican votes.
In the U.S. House of Representatives race for the 2nd Congressional District seat, incumbent Riley Moore was unopposed in the GOP primary.
Democratic candidate Ace Parsi narrowly emerged as the winner in a three-way party primary. He will face off against Moore in the general election in November. Parsi brought in 39.7% of the statewide vote, topping Stephanie Spears Tomana, who earned 37.9% of the vote. Steve Wendelin took in 22.4% of the Democratic votes.
In the statewide nonpartisan race for the Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals, Division 1, H.L. Kirkpatrick won a five-way race for the bench, securing 31% of the vote. Morgan County voters strongly backed Berkeley County Circuit Judge Laura Faircloth for the post, but she earned just 20.9% of the vote, coming in third behind Gerald Titus.
In a race for a second Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals, Division 2, Bill Flanigan won a seat on the state’s highest court, beating out Tom Ewing with 58% of the vote.
Jim Douglas won a seat on the Intermediate Court of Appeals with 58% over sitting judge Dan Greear.
Preliminary vote totals in Morgan County will be canvassed by the Morgan County Commission on Monday, May 18 and Tuesday, May 19 in a step to certify vote totals.
