Statewide primary election is set for Tuesday, May 6

One Stop voting will end on Saturday at 1 p.m., but interest thus far in early voting has been less than expected, said Director Of Elections Kate Cosner.

However, due to high registration numbers, election officials are expecting turnout to be strong for the upcoming May 6 primary.

Cosner said 517 people had cast ballots in the primary as of Tuesday evening. During the early voting period just prior to school bond election, which was held on March 11, a total of 1,364 early ballots were cast.

While primaries typically draw less interest than general elections, One Stop numbers have increased as the option grows more popular with voters. In the general election of 2000, which included a presidential race, 707 people voted One Stop in Alleghany County. By the 2004 election, that number increased to 1,783.

Election officials had expected a larger early turnout for the primary, which includes a hotly contested race for president on the Democrat ticket and contested local Alleghany County commission races and races for governor and other statewide offices on both tickets.

Cosner noted that turnout for early voting, or One Stop, has been lukewarm statewide thus far. "Out of 5.7 million registered voters, there have been 133,699 One Stop ballots cast as of Monday morning," Cosner commented. "That's only a little over 2 percent of all registered voters."

The Democrat ticket has drawn more than three times as much interest in the primary thus far, the numbers indicate. Locally, during One Stop, 286 Democrat ballots were cast as compared to 90 Republican ballots cast since early voting opened on April 17. The totals count both registered party members and unaffiliated voters,

Commission candidates offer views

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following are candidates in the May 6 primary race for two open Board of Commission seats. Information about each candidate, listed alphabetically by party below, is based on a questionnaire sent to the candidates by The Alleghany News. Four Democrats and three Republicans are seeking nomination; the top two vote-getters will advance face off this fall.

DEMOCRATS

Bill Brooks

Bill Brooks is a Democratic candidate for the County Commission. He is not an incumbent candidate.

Brooks is a 1969 graduate of Alleghany High School and is employed as a mechanic at the school bus garage.

In terms of qualifications, Brooks states he has a "vision to look ahead."

As for reasons for seeking office, he notes jobs, taxes and an increase in spending.

The primary issue that concerns Brooks most about the community is the loss of jobs. If elected, he comments, "County jobs will go to county residents" and unnecessary spending would be cut. Brooks went on to say, "Let the voters control what goes on in our county. Try to bring in jobs. If we do our job, we should not need more funds."

Ken E. Richardson

Ken E. Richardson is a Democratic candidate for the County Commission. He is an incumbent candidate who has served a total of 16 years on the Board of Commission, serving 1986 to 1990, 1994 to 2002 and 2004 to present.

 

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