County turnout only 26 percent

Low voter turnout was no surprise to election officials in Red Willow County at the 2002 Primary Elections on Tuesday.

Only 2,060 of the 7,856 or 26 percent of the registered voters in Red Willow County showed up to cast their vote for local offices.

It appears a mistake made in Hayes County will not affect the outcome of the race for Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors. Chuck Saelstrom, director of public communications for MPCCA said this morning that while the ballot was included on the State's master ballot, the county did not include it on its ballots. Saelstrom told the Gazette the 160 voters who voted in Hayes County would not have affected the outcome of the race.

In the three counties where voters did have the option, incumbent Dale Poore received 768 votes compared to challenger Roger Wilson's 1,200. Within the district 1,301 voted for Poore and 1,803 voted for Wilson. Both candidates will advance to the general election.

In the race for three seats on the McCook City Council, Daniel R. Petty, Phil Lyons, James McCarville, Brenda McMurtrey, Jim Kenny and Jerry Reitz will advance to the general election in November.

In the race for County Commissioner Dist. 1, Republican candidate Earl McNutt defeated Dean Geihsler, 292-110. He and Democrat Wayne Stewart will face off in the November election. In the Red Willow County Commissioner, District 3 race, Leigh Hoyt, won over fellow Republicans Reuben Hoff Jr. and Robert Spencer. Hoyt will be facing Duane Tappe, a Democrat, who defeated Bernie Wood, 124-64.

In the race for Red Willow County Clerk, incumbent Pauletta Gerver, Republican, received 1,228 votes. Challenger Cheryl Leitner, Democrat, received 425 votes. That race will be decided in the November general election.