Published: May 14, 2008 01:05 pm         

Incumbents unseated in Grant, Hardy, Hampshire

KEYSER - Incumbent county commissioners didn't fare well in Grant and Hardy counties, where they were defeated for their parties' nominations. Other upsets saw the incumbent sheriff of Grant County knocked out of the November general election as well as the incumbent assessor in Hampshire County.

In the compete but unofficial results, Grant County Commission President Charlie Goldizen, with 730 votes, was defeated for the Republican nomination for that seat by Doug Swick, with 1,265 votes. Swick will go against Democrat Rafe Snell in November. Snell had no opposition in the primary and netted 497 votes in the traditionally Republican county.

The other upset in Grant County was incumbent Sheriff Art Puffinbarger's inability to hold off a challenge from Emory "Bill" Feaster for the Republican nomination. The three-way race resulted in 1,718 votes for Feaster, 630 for Puffinbarger and 502 for John Layton.

There were no Democratic candidates for sheriff.

In the Hardy County commission race, A.J. Wade held a slim margin against incumbent Roger Champ at 1,602 votes to Champ's 1,510. Wade has no Republican challenger in November, though the party will have an opportunity to place a name on the ballot this summer.

In Hampshire County, incumbent Assessor Frank Whitacre lost the Democratic nomination to his only challenger, Norma Wagoner, who had 1,886 votes compared to his 1,164. No Republican candidates filed for the seat.

Hampshire County Commission President Donald P. Cookman, with 2,369 votes, had no challengers for the Democratic nomination. Republican candidates David Parker and Charles "Skipper" Price vied for the nomination with Parker netting 855 votes to Price's 313.

In the House of Delegates races, 47th District Democratic Delegate Harold Michael defeated his challenger, Isaac Sponaugle. No Republicans filed for the seat.

The 48th District incumbent, Republican Allen Evans, will face Democrat Donna Kuhn in November.

In the 50th District, incumbent Republican Ruth Rowan had no challengers in the primary and will likely face Democratic nominee Royce Saville, who edged out Alan "Mitch" Davis.

All three counties voted for incumbent prosecuting attorneys who had no opposition either in the primary or the general election. In Grant County, Dennis DiBenedetto garnered 1,796 votes; in Hardy County, Lucas See netted 2,560 votes; and in Hampshire County, Stephen Moreland tallied 2,445 votes.

Likewise, the circuit judgeships had no challengers with Democrat Donald H. Cookman retaining his seat in the 22nd Judicial Circuit of Hampshire, Hardy and Pendleton counties and Democrat Phil Jordan in the 21st Circuit of Mineral, Grant and Tucker counties. Republican Lynn Nelson was the only candidate to file for retiring Judge Andrew Frye's seat in the 21st circuit.

Their vote totals, like all of those from other districts where candidates cross county lines, are posted on the state election Web site, www.wvvotes.com.

For the most part, the voting went smoothly with Hardy and Grant ballot counting closing out by about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to Hardy County Clerk Gregg Ely and Grant County Coordinator Cindy Whetsell. Hardy County saw a 49 percent turnout of registered voters, with 60 percent in Grant County.

Hampshire County had an electronic glitch that delayed the vote tally for about two hours, according to County Clerk Sharon Link, who reported a 35 percent turnout.

"We had to borrow a machine from Hardy County to finish," she said.

Contact Mona Ridder at mridder@times-news.com.