Full ballots await Mercer voters

By CHARLES OWENS
Bluefield Daily Telegraph

May 10, 2008 08:28 pm

— PRINCETON — There will be no shortage of candidates on the ballot Tuesday for voters in Mercer County.
One race that is generating a lot of attention is the magistrate contest, where 14 candidates are vying for five magistrate seats in Mercer County.
Seven Democrats and two Republicans are vying for their party’s nomination in the magistrate race contest. The 14 candidates are vying for five magistrate seats.
The candidates include Democrats Michael Blankenship, Rosco Boone Sr., incumbent Harold Buckner, Roy Compton, incumbent Mike Flanigan, incumbent Rick Fowler, Jake Hodges, Susan Honaker, Marvin Lockett, Charles N. Poe, Mark Shrader and David Smith. Two Republican candidates, Charles Terry and Amber Radford McClure, are vying for the Republican nomination.
Two incumbent magistrates, Danny Fulknier and Jerry Flanningan, aren’t seeking re-election, County Clerk Rudolph Jennings said.
Jennings said a large voter turnout is expected Tuesday in Mercer County. Jennings said as of late last week, 1,407 early votes had already been cast.
Tuesday’s contest also is already generating national attention — thanks to the continuing battle between Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
“West Virginia could get national prominence on this thing,” Jennings said. “If Clinton comes up with this thing — considering what West Virginia did in the previous two presidential elections — the vote this time may be right interesting.”
Five candidates are vying for two family court judgeships Tuesday. The candidates include Mary Ellen Griffith of Princeton, a candidate seeking the Democratic nomination for Family Court Judge for the 12th Judicial Circuit Division 2; Gerald “Jerry” R. Linkous of Princeton, a candidate seeking the Republican nomination for Family Court Judge for the 12th Judicial Circuit Division 3; Omar J. Aboulhosn of Princeton, a candidate seeking the Democratic nomination for Family Court Judge for the 12th Judicial Circuit Division 1; Ward Morgan of Bluefield, a candidate seeking the Democratic nomination for Family Court Judge for the 12th Judicial Circuit Division 3; and Lisa Clark, a candidate seeking the Democratic nomination for Family Court Judge for the 12th Judicial Circuit Division 3.
Several Democrats are running unopposed in their re-election bids without a Republican challenger.
In the race for prosecuting attorney, incumbent Democrat Timm Boggess is running unopposed for re-election.
In the race for assessor, incumbent Bill Blankenship also running unopposed.
In the race for sheriff, incumbent Sheriff Danny Wills is running unopposed.
In the Circuit Court judge contest, incumbent Circuit Court Judge William Sadler and incumbent Circuit Court Judge Derek C. Swope are both running unopposed. Both Sadler and Swope are Democrats.
– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com