Published: May 14, 2008 10:28 am         

Mineral voters once again defeat school bond issue

KEYSER, W.Va. - It was a night of upsets for the Mineral County Board of Education as the complete but unofficial results of the West Virginia primary election were counted sometime around 4 a.m. Wednesday.

For the second time, the voters soundly defeated the $15.8 million bond issue, with 4,194 residents voting against the issue and 2,958 voting for it.

The county clerk's office reported counting 7,615 ballots, with 43 percent of the 17,740 registered voters turning out for the election.

Ten of the county's 32 precincts actually approved the bond issue, but the margins were not sufficient enough to make up for the large margins by which the remaining precincts defeated it.

In the non-partisan race for two seats on the board of education, incumbent Mary C. Aronhalt, currently serving as the board's president, was returned to office with 3,179 votes. Her challenger, William "Butch" Wahl, finished with 2,306 votes.

In the race for the second seat, however, challenger Craig A. Rotruck, with 3,394 votes, ousted the incumbent, Todd W. Ellifritz, with 2,644 votes.

The new members will be sworn into office in June.

In the race for the one seat coming open on the county commission, Republican voters narrowly approved incumbent Janice LaRue, currently serving as president of that panel. With 1,102 votes, LaRue finished slightly ahead of Roger D. Leatherman, with 1,097. Challenger Annette Favara trailed with 834 votes.

With the ballots yet to be canvassed by the commissioners, the results of that race could conceivably change.

On the Democratic ticket for commission, Donald C. Ashby was unchallenged, and finished with 3,058 votes.

The other hotly contested race in the county was for sheriff. On the Democratic ticket, Deputy Craig Fraley earned the right to advance to the general election in November, with 1,640 votes, followed closely by former deputy Pat Amoroso with 1,241 votes.

Frank W. Smith came in a distant third with 465 and Ringo Nelson was fourth with 381.

Fraley will face the lone Republican candidate, Paul Sabin, who finished with 2,150 votes.

In the race for magistrate, the Democrats gave their vote of confidence to incumbent Sue Roby, with 2,917 votes, with challenger Tanya Bartlett finishing with 1,147. The lone Republican, incumbent David C. Harman, finished with 2,450.

Since the county votes for two magistrates, Roby and Harman are assured a return to their offices in November.

The only other contested race in the county is assessor, and both parties had one candidate who will automatically advance to the general election in November. The race in the fall may prove to be quite close, as incumbent Rose Ann Maine finished with 2,511 votes, while challenger Betty Reall finished with 2,983.

Results for the uncontested county races were as follows:

* House of Delegates: 49th District, Bob Schadler, Republican, 1,703.

* Prosecuting attorney: Jay Courrier, Republican, 2,599.

As for the multicounty races, although Mineral County voters overwhelmingly approved David C. Webb as the Democratic candidate for the 14th Senatorial District, with 3,463 votes to former Mineral County resident Bob Williamsâ 390, the voters across the district approved Williams for the nomination.

He will face Republican Gary Howell of Keyser, who was uncontested and brought in 2,428 votes in Mineral County.

Both candidates for the 21st Circuit Court, Democrat Phil Jordan and Republican Lynn A. Nelson, were uncontested and will not only automatically proceed to the general election in November but will also both automatically serve on the bench.

Contact Liz Beavers at lbeavers@times-news.com.