Escambia Commission: Barry And May Win, Robertson Race Close
August 15, 2012
Steven Barry came out the winner in a five-way race in the Republican primary for Escambia County Commission District 5.
Barry received 41.4 percent of the vote, followed by Sam Archer with 38.4 percent — a difference of 249 votes, according to complete but unofficial results Tuesday night. Jim Taylor received 10.5 percent, while Pat Burkett and Glenn Austin received five percent of the votes each.
The race is not over for Barry; he will face no-party candidate Packy Mitchell in November. Incumbent Kevin White dropped out of the race earlier this year.
Luman May easily defeated two challengers in the Democratic primary election Tuesday for Escambia County Commission District 3. May received 69 percent vote to 23.5 percent for Annie Thomas Walker and seven percent for Clinton Earl Powell, Sr. May will face several write-in and no-party candidate in November.
The race for Escambia County Commission District 1 was too close to call early Wednesday morning. Incumbent Wilson Robertson and Jesse Casey were just 30 votes apart with some absentee and provision ballots to be tabulated before the numbers can be considered official.
Pictured top: Eli Miller of Walnut Hill shows his support for Barry at the Walnut Hill precinct. Pictured inset: Stephen Barry celebrates his District 5 Escambia County Commission Republican primary win Tuesday night with young supporter Layton Woodward. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Clerk Of Court: Newcomer Childers Dethrones Political Fixture Magaha
August 15, 2012
\Political newcomer Pam Childers defeated political fixture and incumbent Ernie Lee Magaha in the primary race for Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Magaha, 84, first took office in 1956 and had won 14 straight elections.
Childers will face a write-in candidate, Henry John Misiak, on the November ballot.
“This is probably a changing of the guard,” Childers said as she celebrated her win, giving credit to Magaha for his many years of service. “I am going to give back to the public with an open door policy, technology initiatives…and look forward to serving the public.”
Childers is a longtime certified public accountant and has served as the financial services manager for the City of Pensacola.
Pictured: Political signs at the precinct located at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
ECUA: Wins For Walker, Campbell And McCorvey
August 15, 2012
In the race for the District 5 seat on the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority Board, incumbent Larry Walker easily defeated two challengers Tuesday.
Walker (pictured) received 76 percent of the vote, to 16 percent for challenger Barry Tweedie and nine percent for Charlou Williams.
With the win, Walker is back on the board with no challenger in November.
In the District 1 ECUA race, Vicki Campbell received 54 percent of the vote to defeat Logan Fink with 46 percent. The race is not over for Campbell, she will face three no-party candidates including incumbent Elizabeth Campbell.
For ECUA District 3, incumbent Elvin McCorvey garnered 50 percent of the vote to defeated Calvin Avant (16 percent), Clorissti Mitchell (17 percent) and Benelll English (16 percent). McCorvey is finishing his 16th year on the ECUA board.
Results: Public Defender, State Rep, Circuit Judge
August 15, 2012
Here are results for the races for public defender, two state House seats and circuit judge:
Public Defender: Bruce Miller
Bruce Miller defeated incumbent James Owens for the 1st Judicial Circuit’s public defender office.
Miller received 58.38 percent of the vote, while Owens received 44.83 percent.
Miller practiced law in the private sector and spent 11 years a the Public Defender Office in multiple capacities.
State Representative, District 2: Clay Ford
Clay Ford defeated Jeremy Bosso for the state representative, District 2 seat. Ford received 74.74 percent of the vote.
State Representative, District 3: Doug Broxson
Doug Broxson defeated challenger Jayer Williamson with 58.5 percent of the vote.
Circuit Judge, Circuit 1 Group 15: Terry Ketchel
For Circuit Judge, Circuit 1 Group 15, Terry Ketchel received 62.88 percent of the vote Tuesday to Thomas Murphy’s 37.12 percent.
Nelson, Mack Get Easy Primary Wins, Set For November
August 15, 2012
Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack appeared likely to cruise to easy wins Tuesday in their respective primaries setting up what will be a crucial matchup in November for the makeup of the U.S. Senate.
Nelson, seeking his third term, had only taken opposition from little-known challenger Glenn Burkett, of Naples, and had already been focused on Mack, who has been the front-runner in the GOP primary for some time as well. With about 60 percent of the votes counted, Nelson had 80 percent of the vote over Burkett.
Mack, however, had better known opposition from within his own party, with former Congressman Dave Weldon, who jumped into the race late, drawing some more socially conservative voters away from Mack, who is generally seen as a particularly staunch fiscal conservative.
Mack still looked likely to win easily; with nearly 60 percent of the vote counted, he was leading Weldon 59 percent to 20 percent. Also in the Republican primary were retired military officer Mike McCalister, who had 14 percent and Marielena Stuart, who had 7 percent in early returns that were expected to hold up.
While Nelson, 69, is often thought of as a low-profile member of the Senate, Democrats have a four to six seat advantage in the chamber, depending on the votes of two independents, and the Florida race is one of several where Republicans have hopes of a pick-up that could flip control of the chamber.
Nelson was elected to the Senate in 2000, but has held some political office in Florida for 40 years.
Mack is the son of former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack, who was replaced by Nelson in the Senate when he retired in 2001. The younger Mack has been in Congress, representing southwest Florida since 2005.
Because of his name recognition – in addition to his politician father, Mack is the great grandson and namesake of Connie Mack I, the famous baseball manager – and with backing of some in the GOP establishment, Mack chased some other earlier GOP candidates out of the primary. George LeMieux, who held a Florida U.S. Senate seat briefly after former Sen. Mel Martinez stepped down early, and Senate President Mike Haridopolos dropped out earlier.
By The News Service of Florida
Sheriff: Morgan Defeats Powell
August 15, 2012
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan won the Escambia County Republican Primary Tuesday, defeating challenger John Powell.
Morgan, the incumbent, received 77 percent of the vote to Powell’s 23.
“It is truly a humbling experience,” Morgan said after the win. He has not yet officially won the position; he must face Mindy Lynn Pare, a write-in candidate, in November.
After defeating Powell, Morgan said he plans to continue to focus on gun crime and drugs.
“We are going to take a hard run on the problem with guns in Escambia County. Right now, it’s killing our children, it’s killing our families. So that’s at the forefront,” the sheriff said.
During a concession speech at the Happy Pig Cafe, a barbeque restaurant in Pensacola, Powell said that despite the loss his campaign made significant accomplishments.
“The issues that were brought forth are extremely important to the community. We want to make sure that we stay on top of things,” Powell said. “We live here. We have to put up with the high crime and the budget and all that.”
“We fought an outstanding fight,” Powell told his supporters and volunteers.
Pictured top, inset: Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan and his supporters celebrate a primary win Tuesday night. (Courtesy WEAR 3). Pictured below: Morgan (right) and challenger John Powell.
Florida Firefighters To Help With Western Fires
August 15, 2012
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam said Tuesday that the Florida Forest Service will send wild fire fighting help to Oklahoma, Montana, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon.
“Due to rainfall in recent months, Florida’s wildfire danger levels have decreased,” Putnam said in a statement. “Therefore, we are able to assist other states that greatly need our help. The Florida Forest Service has some of the most skilled firefighters in the country, and we gladly offer our talent and resources to help other states protect the safety of people, structures and natural resources.”
A total of 56 firefighters are going west, the agency said.
Final, Unofficial Election Results – Santa Rosa County
August 15, 2012
Complete, but unofficial election results from Santa Rosa County
Santa Rosa Clerk of the Circuit Court
- Donny “Don” Spencer 13,450 — 57%
- Mary M. Johnson (R / Inc.) 10,155 — 43%
Santa Rosa Superintendent of Schools
- Timothy S. Wyrosdick (R / Inc.) 12,832 — 54%
- Dr. George McCormick 10,861 — 46%
Santa Rosa Supervisor of Elections
- Tappie Villane 14,767 — 63%
- W.A. “Buck” Lee 8,715 — 37%
Santa Rosa County Commission Dist. 3
- Don Salter 9,480 — 41%
- Jeffrey D. Kelley 6,328 — 27%
- J. Ed Carson 4,096 — 18%
- Marvin Fowler, Sr. 3,191 — 14%
Santa Rosa County Commission Dist. 5
- Lane Lynchard (R / Inc.) 13,462 — 60%
- Pete Southerland 8,864 — 40%
Circuit Judge Group 15
- Terry Ketchel (Inc.) 14,127 — 64%
- Thomas Murphy 7,811 — 36%
Santa Rosa School Board Dist. 2
- Hugh Winkles (Inc.) 13,025 — 58%
- Joseph Pool 9,546 – 42%
Santa Rosa School Board Dist. 4
- Jenny Granse 10,390 — 47%
- Charles Wayne Elliott 7,277 — 33%
- William Bledsoe 4,397 — 20%
Milton City Council, Ward 1
- Wesley Meiss 934 — 74%
- Irvin Stallworth 328 — 26%
Santa Rosa Property Tax Exemption Referendum
- Yes 11,449 — 64%
- No 6,324 — 36%
Santa Rosa Millage Limit for Avalon Fire/Rescue District
- Yes 557 — 57%
- No 428 — 43%
Santa Rosa Sheriff
- Wendell Hall (R / Inc.) 12,857– 71%
- Chuck R. Sloan 5,358 — 29%
Santa Rosa County Commission Dist. 1
- Jim Williamson (R / Inc.) 8,172 –47%
- Mark Cotton 4,660– 27%
- Tom Stewart 4,587 — 26%
Santa Rosa State Committeeman (Rep)
- Martin D. Simmons 10,391 — 71%
- Uriah Matthews 4,335 — 29%
Final, Unofficial Election Results – Escambia County
August 15, 2012
Here are complete, unofficial primary election results from Escambia County.
Some absentee and provision ballots remain to be tabulated before the numbers can be considered official.
79 of 79 Precincts Reporting
Wahoo Opens BayBears Series With 9-5 Win In Mobile
August 15, 2012
The Blue Wahoos plated three runs in the top of the fourth and again in the ninth on their way to a 9-5 win over the Mobile BayBears in the series opener at Hank Aaron Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Wahoos pounded out 15 hits in the winning effort. Donald Lutz led the way offensively for Pensacola with a 4-for-5 game including a pair of home runs. His last, was a two-run shot in the top of the ninth to give the Blue Wahoos some needed insurance.
After breaking a scoreless tie with a run in the third, the Wahoos opened up their lead with three runs in the fourth. Tucker Barnhart, Billy Hamilton and Josh Fellhauer all drove in runs in the inning to make it 4-0. Lutz blasted his first of two home runs on the night in the fifth to make is 5-0.
Mobile battled back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth on two solo home runs. Matt Davidson hit the first before Ryan Strieby hit the second two batters later. Those were the only two runs Blue Wahoos starter Chad Rogers (3-0) allowed on his way to his third win in as many starts.
After Pensacola added a run in the eighth, the BayBears added some suspense in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Mobile scored three runs off Wahoos reliever Curtis Partch. Justin Freeman struck out Strieby for the final out of the inning with the tying run at third. He stayed on to work a 1-2-3 ninth after the Wahoos played three more runs in the top of the ninth to pad the lead. Lutz’s second home run of the game, a two-run blast, highlighted Pensacola’s second three-run inning of the game.
Rogers worked six innings in the start for Pensacola and allowed just four hits without walking a batter in the winning effort. Freeman (14) retired all four batters he faced for the save. Derek Eitel(7-10) took the loss after surrendering five runs, all earned, on nine hits over six innings for the BayBears.
Hamilton was thrown out at second base in his only stolen base attempt of the game. He remains just six steals shy of the all-time single-season record with 139.
The series continues on Wednesday in Mobile. LHP Tony Cingrani (5-3, 1.94) will get the nod for Pensacola against RHP Mike Bolsinger (4-2, 3.76) of Mobile. First pitch is set for 7:05 from Hank Aaron Stadium.
By Tommy Thrall
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.