Kovacevich wins open Clarke County sheriff election

Shortly after final unofficial results were read Tuesday night at Clarke County Courthouse, Mayor Thomas Kedley gave Rob Kovacevich a congratulatory handshake.

Kovacevich, running on the Democratic ticket, won the Clarke County sheriff election in one of the most tightly contested races in the county for partisan offices. Kovacevich prevailed with 48.53 percent of the votes and Ed Stoll received 31.90 percent. George Williamson finished with 19.38 percent of the vote.

Clarke County experienced a slew of new voter registrations during Tuesday’s voting period. In total, 4,499 or 73.29 percent of 6,139 registered voters cast ballots in the general election.

In other local contests, Republican candidate Larry Keller won the Clarke County supervisor District 2 seat with 69.07 percent of the vote compared to Richard McKnight’s 30.85 percent. In District 3, Democratic candidate Marvin McCann won a three-way race with 56.30 percent of the vote to Ray Negley’s 28.35 percent and Derek Lumsden’s 15.19 percent.

Democratic incumbent Janice White was re-elected as Clarke County auditor with 68.51 percent of the vote to Sarah Jo Farlow’s 31.44 percent.

Another close race was for the Clarke Community School Board of Directors’ at-large seat. Brian Crawford was re-elected with 56.12 percent of the vote to Barry Mateer’s 42.25 percent.

Clarke County overwhelmingly voted for Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump (60.89 percent) compared to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton (32.92 percent).

Election results (total votes)

President and Vice President

Donald Trump and Mike Pence (R) – 2,706

Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine (D) – 1,463

Gary Johnson and Bill Weld – 159

U.S. Senator

Chuck Grassley (R) – 2,897

Patty Judge (D) – 1,271

Charles Aldrich – 118

U.S. Representative District 2

Christopher Peters (R) – 2,240

Dave Loebsack (D) – 1,922

State Senator District 14

Amy Sinclair (R) – 2,749

Ruth Smith – 1,278

State Representative District 27

Joel Fry (R) – 2,995

Rich Higdon (D) – 1,313

County Supervisor District 2

Larry Keller – 947

Richard McKnight – 423

County Supervisor District 3

Marvin McCann – 719

Ray Negley – 362

Derek Lumsden – 194

County Auditor

Janice White – 2,933

Sarah Jo Farlow – 1,346

County Sheriff

Rob Kovacevich – 2,116

George Williamson – 845

Ed Stoll – 1,391

County Public Hospital Trustees

Donald Waltz – 2,091

Deb Lundquist – 3,133

County Soil and Water Conservation

Jeffery Pollard – 2,744

Terry Boles – 2,372

Mary Klein – 2,294

County Agricultural Extension Council

Carrie Benda – 2,211

Wendy Short – 2,404

Randy Barnard – 2,476

Paula Hein – 2,220

Supreme Court judges for retention

Mark Cady: Yes – 2,033; No – 1,468

Daryl Hecht: Yes – 1,885; No – 1,508

Brent Appel: Yes – 1,884; No – 1,497

Clarke Community School Board of Directors at-large

Brian Crawford – 1,609

Barry Mateer – 1,240

Osceola City, Public Measure A

Yes – 767

No – 1,110