GOP scores big wins, mid-term election

  A little less than half of Dare county’s voters cast ballots in the mid-term election, an unusual percentage for a non-presidential election. With 17 of 20 precincts counted, the results showed the changing demographics in traditionally Democrat-leaning Dare County, with a Republican favored for U.S. Senate (Republican Richard Burr vs. Democrat Elaine Marshall) by a vote of 7,279 to 4,261 with Libertarian Michael Beitler taking 312 votes and one write-in. Republican Walter B. Jones Jr. took 8,016 votes to Democrat Johnny G. Rouse’s 3,452 and Libertarian Darryl Holloman’s 352.

  In local elections, Democrat Rodney Midgett lost the sheriff’s position he currently holds to Doug Doughtie, 5,264 to 6,640. Midgett has served the sheriff’s office for many years and was chief deputy before his election as sheriff. Doughtie is a part-time officer for Duck and has many years of experience. In the only county commissioners seat, Republican incumbent Jack Shea bested Democrat Robin A. Mann 6,191 to 4,440 for the at-large seat. Commissioners Virginia Tillett and Max Dutton, districts 1 and 2, respectively, were unopposed.

  Manteo’s Marc Basnight, long-time state Senator and Senate pro tem, was preferred over Hood Richardson 6,643 to 5,318 and won the state-wide race. He will return to the state Senate but not in the powerful pro tem position, since the election swept in Republican majorities in both state houses, according to an article in ”The Coastland Times.”

      In the state House election, Democrat Tim Spear lost in Dare County to Republican Bob Steinburg, 5,411 to 6,220, but won the seat district-wide. District Attorney Frank Parrish, a Democrat, was unopposed. In Dare County Merlee Austin ran unopposed for clerk of superior court, and Vanzolla McMurran was unopposed for register of deeds. Both are incumbents. 

  Judgeships (Dare vote): Supreme Court associate justice -Barbara Jackson over Bob Hunter; Court of Appeals – Sanford Steelman unopposed; Ann Marie Calabria over Jane Gray, Steven Walker over Rick Elmore by 10 votes, Martha Geer over Dean Poirier; Superior Court – J.C. Cole and Jerry Tillett were unopposed; District Court Judge – Robert Trivette and Eula Reid were unopposed.

  Soil and water – Larry Bray over Louise Hanson, Robert Perry unopposed, 38 write-in votes in both races.

  A constitutional amendment making it unlawful for a convicted felon to run for sheriff, gathered 9,659 for and 1,321 against.