Big wins, low turnout

Dunkirk mayoral challenger Dan Watson defeated incumbent Ron Hunt by a wide margin in Tuesday’s primary in a turnout that was relatively low but higher than other precincts across Jay County.
In other contested races, Phonnie Wright clinched the Democratic nod for Dunkirk clerk-treasurer; Portland City Court Judge Donald C. Gillespie defeated two challengers on the Republican ticket; challenger Ralph Claytor Jr. beat incumbent Todd Nichols for Portland’s District 2 city council seat; Kip Robinette and Mark Iliff secured the two Portland City Council at-large slots on the Republican ticket; and Kyle Champ, Ted Friddle and Joe Johnson landed to top slots in a eight-way race for three Redkey town board seats.
Total turnout for the primary was 1,142, a mere 20.9 percent. However, in Dunkirk with contested races for mayor and clerk-treasurer, turnout was higher at 36.4 percent.
Watson, a former city councilman and current county engineer, defeated Hunt 352-60 in the Democratic primary for the city’s mayor. Hunt was seeking his second term as mayor. No Republican has filed to run for Dunkirk mayor, but a candidate could be slated by the party.
“It’s a humbling experience when you win by that big a margin,” Watson said Tuesday evening. “…“It’s amazing how much support I received … People evidently wanted a change.”
Watson received 174 votes in the Dunkirk 1 precinct and 178 in Dunkirk 3, while Hunt received 30 votes in each.
In the Democratic Dunkirk clerk-treasurer primary, Wright defeated three other candidates, receiving 183 of the 415 votes cast. Debbie Stewart-McDaniel finished second with 130, Ailesia Franklin landed 98 votes and Lynn Shoopman had four.
“I just want to thank everybody who supported me and helped me from day one,” Wright said. “I’ll do the best job I can possibly do for the people.”
In the three-way Republican race for Portland City Court Judge, Gillespie, who was appointed by the governor earlier this year to fill the role vacated by the 2010 resignation of Michele Pensinger, outpaced challengers Tom Lightle and Judy Williamson. Gillespie won with 306 votes to Lightle’s 109 and Williamson’s 39.
“I was very thankful and grateful for the results and especially want to thank people who helped during my campaign as I walked door to door,” Gillespie said.
The Portland City Council District 2 race was decided by five votes, as Claytor defeated incumbent Todd Nichols 51-46.
Robinette and Iliff won the two Republican Portland City Council at-large nominations with 340 and 242 votes, respectively, beating Dennis M. Mason Jr., who collected 105.
And in an eight-way Democratic race for three Redkey Council at-large seats, Champ, Friddle and Johnson clinched the nominations with 84, 77 and 73 votes, respectively. Gregory Curme finished with 44, Terri Taylor had 22, Jim “Watermellon” Phillips got 18 votes, Doug Bennett finished with 17 and Nathan Cole won nine votes.
With the primary wrapped up, a few Portland contests are now set for the fall election.Republican Michele “Mickey” Pensinger and Democrat Randy Geesaman will face off for clerk-treasurer after both ran uncontested Tuesday.
For city court judge, Gillespie will face former city court judge Larry Freyburgher, who was uncontested on the Democratic ticket.
For the District 2 seat, Claytor will face a second challenge as he matches up against Democrat Mark Hedges.
In the District 5 city council race, Republican incumbent Kent McClung will be up against Democrat Fred Bailey, who most recently served on the Jay County Council.
And Portland voters will choose two at-large council members from among Republicans Robinette and Iliff and Democrat Judith Aker. Robinette and Aker are incumbents.
Also, in Dunkirk, Democratic incumbent Craig Faulkner is being challenged by Republican Jesse Bivens for the District 3 city council race.
Others who ran uncontested Tuesday include:
Portland
•Mayor — Bruce Hosier (R)
•Clerk-treasurer — Michele “Mickey” Pensinger (R) and Randy Geesaman (D)
•City council District 1 — Bill Gibson (R)
•City council District 2 — Mark Hedges (D)
•City council District 3 — Michael Brewster (R)
•City council District 4 — Donald P. Gillespie (R)
•City council District 5 — Kent McClung (R) and Frederic Bailey (D)
•City council at-large — Judith Aker (D)
•City court judge — Larry Freyburgher (D)
Dunkirk
•City council District 1 — Jack Robbin (D)
•City council District 2 — Judy Garr (D)
•City council District 3 — Jesse Bivens (R) and Craig Faulkner (D)
•City council District 4 — Eric Bowler (D)
•City council at-large — Tom Johnson (D)
•City court judge — Tommy “Chip” Phillips (R)
Redkey
•Clerk-treasuer — Debbie James (D)
Elections were not held for Bryant, Pennville or Salamonia since none of the races were contested. All candidates will be on the fall ballot.[[In-content Ad]]