County residents headed to polls Tuesday

With campaign signs and window stickers, the citizens of Mineral County have been acknowledging who they'd like to see in office. Yesterday, June 8, they took one of the first steps to making that happen as they joined many Americans across the country by heading to the polls to cast ballots in the primary election. Of course, others voted earlier, choosing to vote through the mail. Clerk of Court Recorder Katherine Jasper said that a good percentage of the absentee ballots have been returned.

"We issued 287absentee ballots and as of today (Monday night) 241 have been returned," Jasper said.

With those numbers, 84 percent of those who received absentee ballots have already cast their vote. Jasper said that she believes the numbers are good for the absentee ballots.

"I think that's very good and we still have whatever is in the mail tomorrow (Tuesday)," Jasper said.

Jasper said they will take absentee ballots up until tomorrow. She said that some will also bring them in to the polls rather than mail them back so it is likely more will be counted.

The decisions to be made on the primary ballot in lieu of the local races are selecting one republican candidate to go up against Tim Vulles, democrat, in November. While Rick Callison's name appeared on the ballot as he withdrew his name too late, voters had the choice between Mike Johnson and Ernie Ornelas.

In the four-way race for Justice of the Peace, voters will send the two candidates with the largest percentage of the votes to the election in November. The candidates for the position ran as nonpartisans and they were: Wanda James, Lorene Galford McCoy, Muriah Alexander and Mark Farris.

Voters will also decide if they wish to continue the six mill levy for the Mineral County Hospital District for 10 years. The levy was last authorized in 2008. A vote for the levy did not increase the present tax obligation, while a vote against would cancel the existing levy fiscal year 2010-2011.

Tax payers and citizens also had an important decision to make regarding the proposed public safety levy of 25 mills. Funds, if passed, would allow the sheriff's department to continue to operate as it had by raising funds of $219,250. Hugh Hopwood has said prior that not voting for the levy could mean the possible cuts of two sheriff's deputies as well as a dispatcher.

In state elections, voters chose one republican and one democrat to go against each other for the position of United States Representative. One the republican's side incumbent Denny Rehberg faced opponents AJ Otjen and Mark French. Sam Rankin, Tyler Gernant, Melinda Gopher and Dennis McDonald were the four democrats who appeared on the ballot.

The results of the primary election will be available online Wednesday morning at vp-mi.com in the Mineral County news section.