Election has surprises, large turnout

by Sally Maxwell, Managing Editor

In a surprise upset, Jim Rogers, Democrat candidate for District 3 county commissioner, fended off challenges by three other candidates, including incumbent Mike Huff, to win the county commission post.

Rogers won handily, with 53.79 percent of the votes cast, or 1,235 votes. Since he won the majority of the votes and since there is no Republican candidate for the office, Rogers will take office on Jan. 1.

His closest challenger, Gary Taylor, collected 521 votes and Huff had 397 votes. The fourth candidate, Carl Reeves, had 143 votes.

The remainder of the races in Sequoyah County were wide open, with a large voter turnout, possibly attracted by the county commission races.

In the District 1 county commission election a runoff election will be needed, between Ray Watts, who garnered 791 votes, or 39.95 percent, and Michael Rhodes who had 601 votes, or 30.35 percent.

The runoff primary election will be Aug. 24. In the primary election, the candidate must have 50 percent of the vote, plus one vote, to avoid the runoff election.

The other candidates in the race for District 1 county commissioner were Paul “Shortyâ€