Quiet Local Races Get Loud and Close in the Last Days

By Greg Wells — CCN-Editor

With local election watchers taken by surprise with some of the tactics employed by one side in the last week of the local primary election a lot of attention was drawn to the polls May 19. Rhetoric on one side became decidedly bellicose, from some supporters, turning Trump-like in their use of AI images and name calling.

But with 44.5% of all registered voters showing up to cast a ballot in the primary the turnout was categorize by County Clerk Bryan Morgan as a little light, but better than it looked at the start. 

After some minor confusion the following local primary results were clear: 

PVA; Jonathan Collins 1,674, Brian Leveridge 712

County Judge-Executive; Luke King 1,268, Gina Shaye Lee-Watson 1,168

Sheriff; Keaton Williams 2,105, Kenny Brown 346

Jailer; Corey “Cornbread” Branham 938, Chad Milton 878

Magistrate D1; Rondall Wray 376, Jeremiah Jeremy Cooksey 357

Constable D1; Tony Paul Wright 346, Caleb Finley 329

Magistrate D2; Scot Daniels 336, Lane Cope 182

Constable D2; Adam Bow 265, Kevin Thacker 260

Magistrate D3; Alex Killman 221, Larry S. Anderson 181

Magistrate D4; Jeffery Cyphers 448, Jacob Wray 122

Given that there were no contenders from the Democratic Party those Republicans are the presumptive winners in the local races, assuming these unofficial results are certified.

For the rest of the candidates in those races and the other statewide races as well as breakdowns by individual districts see the next edition of the Cumberland County News.