Primary election results in

MINERAL COUNTY – The people have spoken as a new Mineral County Sheriff was elected, and two justice of the peace candidates will move on to the general election in November.

Tom Bauer won the sheriff’s candidacy with 383 votes, or a 42 percent margin out of a total of 921 voters. Robert Larson was second with 229 votes, Adam Cole was third with 203 votes and Michael Toth brought in 106 votes.

Doug Sharkey and Dale Magone will face each other in the November election to determine their candidacy for the justice of the peace position.

The justice of the peace candidates are the only ones in the election who have to move on because it is nonpartisan.

Sharkey secured 377 votes, or 33 percent, which was good for first place. Magone was second with 316 votes, followed by Pat Morgan with 169, Mark Grimm, 156 and Juli Balenger had 134 votes. A total of 1,152 people cast their vote for justice of the peace.

In the Mineral County West End Commissioner race, Duane Simons retained his position with 545 votes or a 60 percent majority out of 921 total votes. Robert McCandless had 234 votes and Anton “Tony” Pearson had 128.  

There were three candidates who ran unopposed and will remain in their current position.

Mineral County Attorney Marcia Boris had 643 votes, Treasurer Mary Yarnall had 792 and County Clerk and Recorder Staci Hayes had 695.

Republican Nick Schwaderer brought in more votes than Democrats Lloyd Wilkins and Terry Caldwell with 800 votes for the State Representative District 14 position.

Three local government reviews also sought a voter response. A government review is on the ballot every 10 years and asks citizens whether or not they would like to fund a review of their town government. Mineral County, Superior and Alberton were communities who asked for input.

Voters said no to a county review with 457 in favor, and 580 against. Superior’s review also lost with 85 for and 134 against.

Alberton had the closest margin of the three as 24 voters said yes and 43 said no.

Superior Schools was seeking $3.99 million to build an annex on to the existing high school that would serve as the new junior high building, and to provide energy upgrades to existing buildings in the district.

Superior Schools had said the junior high building has aged and ran its course as a suitable building to house seventh and eighth grade students in.

Out of 859 total votes cast in the county, 45 percent said yes, while 55 percent said no.

Superior will likely seek an alternate plan for a future bond proposal, as well as seek a different space to house students in next fall as the current building has become too dangerous.

Regardless of the general election in November, all elected candidates will start a new term of office in January 2015.

Candidates who were running unopposed will keep their current position and they will continue on with their job as usual.