Republicans claim two of three county seats

By JIM TALBERT\Staff
TAZEWELL – Several new faces will soon be taking their seats in the local government.
Republican Will Morefield’s big win over Incumbent Dan Bowling set the tone and Republicans claimed two of the three seats on the board of supervisors. Republicans also claimed victory in the top three statewide offices.
Morefield collected 4,954 votes to 3,345 for Bowling in Tazewell County. He collected 2,897 to 2,215 for Bowling in Buchanan County. The 25-year-old Morefield credited a grass roots effort that started early with playing a big role in the win.
Republican and Political newcomer John Absher took the three way race in the Western District. Absher received 1,017 votes to 744 for Democratic incumbent Bill Wimmer. Independent candidate Bob Wade took 469 votes.
Democrat Mike Hymes retained his seat on the board with a 1,581 to 975 win over Dallas Sparks. Hymes will be the only Democrat on the board when the New Year starts.
Republicans will get a 3-2 majority on the board immediately thanks to a win in the Northern District. Jim Campbell Jr., defeated David Woodard II in a special election for the seat vacated by Bill Rasnick.
Campbell beat Woodard 892 to 831 and he will be sworn in prior to the November meeting of the board of supervisors. While voters showed their dissatisfaction with county and state leadership, incumbents stood firm in the school board elections.
Steve Davis defeated Penny Nimmo 1,392 to 832 to hang onto his seat in the western district. Randy Conn defeated Charles A. “Buddy’ Young 1,391 to 1,191 in the southern district race.
A warm fall day brought 10,343 of the county’s 26,633 registered, (38.83%), voters to the polls. Buchanan County went straight Republican for the first time in many years with McDonnell, Bolling and Cucinelli all winning easily. Buchanan county had no local offices on the ballot but 5,15 of their 16,115 registered voters cast ballots.