Johnson, St. Clair win local races; GOP closes in

By Scott Wright

CENTRE — Traditionally blue Cherokee County got a little more red in last Tuesday’s General Election. Despite losing nationally, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain received nearly 75 percent of the 9,800 votes cast Nov. 4.

In a county long dominated by Democrats, the County Commission will again be made up exclusively of members of that party after four years of split representation. Elbert St. Clair defeated Republican Kevin Ford 5,195 votes (55.5 percent) to 4,154 (44.4 percent). 

Republican Commissioner Lori Owens decided against a second term. Her seat was won by Democrat Wade Sprouse, who ran unopposed. 

Superintendent of Education Brian Johnson, a Democrat, was reelected despite the efforts of Republican challenger Mitchell Guice. Johnson received 5,025 votes (52.2 percent) to Guice’s 4,590 votes (47.7 percent). 

Johnson spent part of the fall campaign defending the Board of Education’s decision to begin millions of dollars in construction projects during slow economic times. But Johnson defended the new construction and a majority of voters showed their approval of his policies.

Johnson said he was grateful for their support.

"I'm very pleased with the outcome, and I am humbled by the show of support I have received throughout this campaign," Johnson said. "It has been stressful, but there were so many positives, too."

Johnson said his campaign took him across the county and allowed him to meet many people and make more than a few new friends.

"I believe I was able to build several relationships that will last a lifetime," he said.

Johnson said after a few days off he will direct his focus back onto the future of the county school system.

"We're going to continue on towards completion of the major construction projects we have underway and we're already looking at new projects we'll be starting, probably in late spring 2009," he said. 

Revenue Commissioner, John A. Roberts, a Democrat, was reelected without opposition.  

While the county held to its Democratic roots in local races, it skewed towards the GOP in state and national races like never before. 

Republican presidential candidate John McCain was the big winner in Cherokee County, with 75 percent of the vote. In eight other state and national races featuring two candidates, the GOP captured more votes than the Democrat. 

In countywide voting, Sen. Jeff Sessions received 72 percent of the vote in his race against Democratic challenger Vivian Davis Figures; District 3 Rep. Mike Rogers outperformed challenger Joshua Segall by a 2-1 margin; Bill Thompson received almost 60 percent of the Cherokee County vote in his race for a seat on the state’s Court of Civil Appeals; and Republicans Beth Hellum and Mary Windom both got near 60 percent support in the county. 

Republican Stephanie Bell, who was instrumental in bringing the Gadsden State campus to Centre, also did well within in the county, gathering 4,941 votes to Democratic challenger Judy West’s 3,833 votes. 

In a closer contest, Republican Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh pulled 52 percent of the local vote in her race against former Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley for Public Service Commission president. 

Owens, the Cherokee County Republican Party Chairwoman, said she was not surprised to see the number of votes for her party’s candidates increase on Tuesday.

“Our county trends more towards the GOP in each election cycle,” said Owens, who has a doctorate in political science. “Traditionally Democratic boxes such as Ellisville even voted more Republican this time. Countywide, the Republican Party had 1,806 straight-party votes compared to 1,373 straight-party votes for the Democrats.”

Owens said having McCain on the ticket also benefited candidates for state office.

“There was some coattail effect from the presidential candidate, which always happens,” she said. “We now have competitive local races, as well.”

In other local races, Cherokee County District Judge Sheri Carver was reelected without opposition. Lisa McKissick, who also ran unopposed, was reelected to her seat on the Board of Education.