Election Results

President Barack Obama has been re-elected to a second term in the White House. Obama received 303 Electoral votes, more than the 270 needed to win.  Obama also won the popular vote, 52.89% to 45.48%.

Arizona has elected Jeff  Flake to the US Senate. Flake defeated Democrat Richard Carmona 50.42% to 45.22%

Ann Kirkpatrick will return to Washington from Arizona’s Congressional District 1. Kirkpatrick defeated Republican Jonathon Paton 48.68% to 45.43%

In the State Senate race for  Legislative District 8, Democrat Barbara McGuire defeated Republican Joe Ortiz 49% to 46%. But Republicans “TJ” Shope and Frank Pratt received the most votes in  District 8 for the Arizona State House.

Mike Pastor keeps his seat on the Gila County Board of Supervisors with 54% of the votes.

The new Gila County Sheriff is Adam Shepherd, who received 57% of the votes.

Deborah Savage received 53% of the votes to defeat Don Ascoli for Gila County Treasurer

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Mickie Nye lost to Sadie Jo Thompson, who received 66%, to keep her position as Gila County Recorder.

Deborah Hughes is the new Gila County Assessor. She defeated Dale Hom, who held the position for 24 years.

In the Globe School Board election, the most votes went to Noelle Anderson, Jacque Cline Griffin and Judy Moorhead.

Voters in the Miami School District defeated a proposed budget increase, 53% to 47%.

Arizona voters have defeated the proposition that would have made permanent a 1% temporary sales tax for  education and other services.  65% voted No.

Proposition 120—the so-called “state sovereignty" referendum—was defeated 67.54% to 32.46%.

The proposition that would have changed primary elections to a “top two” system was also defeated, 67% to 33%.

Proposition 117, the proposition that puts a cap on property tax increases, passed with 57% voting Yes.

The proposition that adds protection for crime victims passed with 80% of the votes.

Voters defeated Proposition 115. It would have given Arizona governors more say over picking judges.  Seventy-three percent voted No.

The proposition that would have increased equipment tax exemptions for small businesses was defeated with 56.51% No votes.

Proposition 119, which allows swaps of state trust lands, passed with 62% voting Yes.

Proposition 118, which sets a minimum amount of education funding from the state trust land fund, is extremely close. Current unofficial results show that proposition failing by less than 1%.

October 9 is Voter Registration Deadline

Tuesday is the deadline to register to vote in the November 6 general election. Early voting begins on Thursday.

You can register or change your registration at the Gila County elections office or online at servicearizona.com.

Gila County Primary Election Results

Adam Shepherd defeated Darrell Stubbs in the  Republican Primary for Gila County Sheriff.  Shepherd will face Democrat Craig Jones in the November General Election. Jones defeated Ray Van Buskirk with more than 68% of the votes.

Gila County Attorney Daisy Flores lost to Bradley Beauchamp in a close race.

David Cook defeated Tim Humphrey in the Republican Primary for Board of Supervisors in District 2. He will face Democrat Mike Pastor in November.

Democrat John Marcanti came out on top in a three way race for District 3 Supervisor.  He had 43%, followed by Ronnie McDaniel with 33% and Marvin Mull, Jr. with 24%

Gila County Recorder Sadie Jo Tomerlin defeated James Feezor with more than 62% of the votes. She will face Democrat Mickie Nye in November.

Deborah Hughes defeated Nathon Morris for County Assessor. She will face current Assessor Dale Hom in November.

Arizona Representative Jeff Flake defeated Will Cardon and two other candidates in the Republican race for US Senate. Flake received nearly 70% of the votes. He’ll run against Democrat Richard Carmona in November. Carmona was surgeon general under President George W. Bush.

Former District 1 Representative Ann Kirkpatrick defeated Navajo native and public interest attorney Wenona Benally Baldenegro  to be the Democratic candidate for District 1 in November. She will face Republican Jonathon Paton. Paton defeated three other candidates with more than 60% of the votes.

Ernest Bustamante and Emily Verdugo were the top two in a close three way race in the Democratic Primary for State Representative in District 8. They will face Republicans Frank Pratt and Thomas Shope in November.

For complete results, visit the Gila County website at www.gilacountyaz.gov.

Republicans File Lawsuits Concerning New Legislative Maps

The US Justice Department has approved the legislative maps drawn up by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. But on Friday, conservative Republicans  filed two lawsuits. The Payson Roundup reports that the filings ask for a three-judge federal panel to draw new congressional district lines next year and new state legislative district lines before the August elections.

The lawsuits claim that the Independent Redistricting Commission packed some districts with Republican voters to give Democrats an advantage in adjoining districts.

The Justice Department’s prompt approval of the maps means that this fall’s elections will take place in the new districts since courts probably won’t be able to act in time.

The Commission’s maps split Gila County in two and moved northern Gila County from a Flagstaff-dominated congressional District 1 to a western Arizona-dominated District 4. Incumbent Congressman Paul Gosar has moved from Flagstaff to Prescott to run in the new District 4.

Miami General Election Replacement Ballots

The Town of Miami is holding a General Election on Tuesday, May 15. This is a “Vote by Mail” election, there are no polling places

If you haven’t received your ballot or have damaged, lost or spoiled your ballot, you can obtain a replacement at the Gila County Recorder’s Office in Globe or at Miami Town Hall. All ballots must be received at either of these locations by 7:pm on May 15.

If you have any questions, call the Gila County Recorder’s Office at 402-8734.

Home Rule Forum in Miami on April 16

The Miami Town Council passed a Resolution in December that places the Home Rule issue on the May 15 General Election ballot.

A forum about “How Home Rule Affects You and Your Town” will be held on Monday, April 16 at 6:pm at Bullion Plaza.

Globe Voters Elect New Mayor and Two Council Members

Globe voters have elected a new mayor and two council members by a margin of 2 to 1. This was one of the most controversial elections in years and many people predicted it would be very close. But public opposition to a private prison and photo radar seemed to dominate the election.

Unofficial results show that current mayor Fernando Shipley received a little more than 28% of the votes. Terry Wheeler received nearly 65%. The third candidate, James Gillette, had 6.67%.of the total votes.

Mike Humphrey defeated Thea Wilshire in District 2 with nearly 67% of the votes.

Eric Mariscal came out ahead of Carmen Casillas with a little more than 68% of the votes.

James Haley ran unopposed in District 1.

Voter participation was just under 46%.

Shipley and the two defeated council members had the support of several local businesses, the Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation, and two Gila County Supervisors. They began to exert their influence two councils ago by firing the City Manager and hiring a new one. They approved Redlex photo radar in 2009 and the cameras began operation last April.

The proposal for a private prison in Globe prompted most of the city’s registered voters to sign a petition last year seeking voter approval before any private prison could be built within the City Limits.

Somewhat less controversial was the privatization of Globe’s trash collection, but that move was not universally popular either.

The new council takes office in July. Mayor-elect Terry Wheeler has promised to get rid of the Redflex cameras. He also opposed the private prison proposal as a member of the Globe City Council

Voting Deadline is Tuesday at 7:PM

Globe City Hall and the Gila County Recorder’s Office will be open tomorrow (Tuesday) from 6:am until 7:pm.

All ballots must be turned in to Globe City Hall, the Globe Public Library or the Gila County Recorder by 7:pm tomorrow.

A drive-up drop box is located in front of the Gila County Courthouse. You can also drop your ballot into the white box for water bills in the Globe Municipal Parking Lot

Globe Voting Deadline is March 13

If you are a registered voter in the City of Globe and have not received your mail-in election ballot, you can pick one up at Globe City Hall. If you have any questions about your ballot, contact Globe City Clerk Gina Paul at 425-7146 ext. 21.

The deadline to vote is 7:pm on Tuesday, March 13. All ballots must be turned in by that time at Globe City Hall, the Globe Public Library or the Gila County Recorder’s Office.

Drive-up drop boxes are located in the Globe municipal parking lot and in front of the Gila County Courthouse.

Stubbs to Run for Sheriff

Darrell Stubbs has announced that he is running for Gila County Sheriff on the 2012 ballot.

Stubbs has served as a Gila County deputy sheriff, a patrol officer for the Town of Miami and the Gila County Task Force.

Candidate Forums at Bernard's Coffee Station

If you missed the candidate forum last week, a series of forums is being held at Bernard’s Coffee Station. The programs start at 6:pm.

Terry Wheeler will be there tomorrow (Tuesday), Jim Gillette on Wednesay and Fernando Shipley on Friday.

District 3 candidate Carmen Cassillas will be at Bernard’s Coffee Station this Thursday and Erik Mariscal next Wednesday, February 15.

District 2 candidates Thea Wilshire and Mike Humphrey have declined to participate.

Tucson Republican to Run for CD1 Seat

The Tucson Sentinel reports that Tucson Republican Jonathon Paton has announced that he is running for Congress in the re-designed First Congressional District. The district now stretches from Oro Valley—just north of Tucson—to the Utah Border.

Paton is a former state legislator who will possibly face former state Rep. Bill Konopnicki and former Corporation Commissioner Gary Price in the Republican primary.

Payton served in the Arizona Legislature from 2004 to 2010. He ran for Congress in District 8 in 2010, but lost the GOP primary to Jesse Kelly, who lost to Gabrielle Giffords in the general election.

After Paton left the Legislature to run for Congress, he lobbyed for the payday loan industry.

Former Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick and Wenona Benally Baldenegro will run in the Democratic primary for Congressional District 1.

Current District 1 Congressman Paul Gosar has announced that he is moving from Flagstaff to Prescott to run in the newly aligned Congressional District 4.

Local Candidate Forum February 2

A candidate forum for local city council candidates will take place on Thursday, February 2 at the Gila County Courthouse.

Miami candidates will start, followed by the Globe candidates. Each candidate will give a brief opening statement and then take questions from the audience.

The forum is sponsored by the Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce as a public service. For more information call the chamber at 425-4495.

Redistricting Plans Submitted to US Justice Department

The Gila County Elections Department has submitted the Supervisorial Redistricting Plan, the Community College Redistricting Plan and the Precinct Boundary and Polling Place Change Plan to the US Justice Department for preclearance under the Voting Rights Act.

Submission materials are available for public review at the Gila County Elections Department on Apache Avenue. Or call 402-8709 with questions or comments.

You may also contact the Elections Department for Apache or Spanish translation assistance.

Initiative Would Redesign Arizona Primary

A group led by former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson has proposed a major change in Arizona’s election system. They’ve launched a ballot measure campaign that would ask voters to replace separate party primaries with a single ballot.

Under the propsal the two candidates who receive the most votes in the single primary –regardless of political party—would advance to the general election.
KTAR.com reports that the change would apply to all elections except those that elect candidaes on a nonpartisan basis. It would also not apply to the election of president or vice-president.

Supporters say their proposal would promote open government and encourage the election of candidates who will work together for the good of the state. Proponents of top-two primaries also say this would help elect more moderate candidates from the major parties while giving independents an equal voice. Opponents say the proposed system would reduce ballot access for third-party candidates and could reduce voter choice if the only two candidates for an office are from the same party.

Governor Brewer and the Arizona Republican Party have voiced opposition to the proposal.

Study Shows Connection Between Rural Voting and Candidate Success

A study by the Center for Rural Strategies shows that rural Arizonans could have a bigger impact on the 2012 elections than most people might think.

Public News Service reports that the group has tracked how people in rural areas have voted in recent elections. They found a connection between how a candidate does with these voters and his or her unltimate success in getting into office.

The group says that their poll of rural voters in battleground states shows that when Republican candidates run up big margins among these voters, they win national elections. But when Democrats reduce the Republican lead in rural areas, Democrats tend to win elections.

These trends held true in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections, as well as the 2006 midterm elections.

The study is online at ruralstrategies.org.

Applications Taken for Clean Elections Commission

Applications are being taken for the Citizens Clean Elections Commission. The Commission oversees a public financing system for political campaigns and promotes voter registration efforts.

Since there are already two Republicans, two Democrats and two Maricopa County residents on the Commission, the current position must be filled by someone outside Maricopa County who is not a member of those two parties.

To apply, go to www.azcleanelections.gov and click on the button “Click Here to Apply.” The application deadline is February 28.

Election Results

Republicans scored major victories statewide in the 2010 midterm elections. Here in US Congressional District One, Republican Paul Gosar defeated incumbent Ann Kirkpatrick. Gosar had almost 50% of the vote, Kirkpatrick around 44%.

Sylvia Allen has been elected state Senator from Legislative District 5. She received two thirds of the votes, defeating Democrat Elaine Bohlmeyer.

In the race for state Representative from District 5, the top two vote getters were Brenda Barton, who received nearly 34% of the votes, followed by Chester Crandell with just under 32%.

Gary Goetteman is the new Globe Justice of the Peace. He received more than 55% of the votes. Kevin Nolan received just under 37%.

Frankie Dalmolin received just under 37% of the votes for Globe School Board. Glen Robison had a little over 17%. They were the top two.

Robert Ashford was reelected to the Gila Community College Governing Board with more than 69% of the votes.

Ken Bennett keeps his job as Arizona Secretary of State and Tom Horne is the new Arizona Attorney General.

For complete results click here or here.

GCC Hosts CD1 Candidate Forum (Update)

Gila Community College Forums for the Future is hosting US Representative candidate and First District incumbent Ann Kirkpatrick on Wednesday, October 20. Kirkpatrick will speak at 5:30pm, followed by a question and answer session and then a mixer at 6:30.

The Forum will be at the Gila Pueblo Campus in Globe. The public will also be able to participate by interactive television at the Payson and San Carlos campuses.

Candidate Paul Gosar was to have taken part in a similar forum at GCC on October 27. However, his staff notified the college yesterday (Monday) that he will not be able to participate.