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Election 2006: Where we stand
By Carol Broeder and Ted Morris/Arizona Range News
Like grains of sand through an hourglass, the votes for Legislative District 25 state representative candidates were still trickling in this week.
In the state race in District 25, there was no clear winner between incumbent Jennifer Burns and challenger Gail Griffin for one of the two house seats in the district. Election officials reportedly were working long days since last Tuesday counting mailed-in and provisional ballots.
On the day after the election, 53,000 ballots cast in Pima County -- 18 percent -- reportedly had not yet been counted.
Officials with the Pima County Division of Elections told Wick News Service Monday that they might not be finished counting votes until early next week. Which precincts involved were unknown.
Incumbent Rep. Manny Alvarez, a Democrat from Elfrida, took one of the two seats with 25.55 percent of the county vote. Challenger Patricia Fleming was defeated with only 21.45 percent of the vote in the county.
District 25 covers an enormous swatch of ground that essentially covers Cochise County minus Sierra Vista, Pima County minus Tucson, and a large chunk of Maricopa County.
In the race for state representative, former legislator Gail Griffin was the top vote getter in the county with 26.50 percent, while Republican incumbent Jennifer Burns had 24.64 percent of the vote in the county.
According to the tally for the entire district from the Arizona Secretary of State's Office, as of Monday Burns was leading with 17,687 votes to Griffin's 17,137 votes.
In Cochise County, 34,376 voters made their way to the polls last Tuesday, out of a total 58,138-registered voters, a 59 percent voter turnout.
The following are Cochise County election results, which do not become official until the Cochise County Board of Supervisors canvasses the vote, anywhere from six to15 days after the election.
Area residents turned out at the polls last Tuesday to select a new Justice of the Peace for Districts 4 and 6.
Republican Trevor Ward defeated Democrat Kim Bennett in the Willcox race to replace retiring Judge Judy Bethel.
Ward received 59.55 percent of the vote, and Bennett, 40.13 percent.
Once a hotly contested race, it quieted down after September's primary election narrowed the field down to two.
"I want to thank everybody who voted -- the turnout was excellent," Ward said. "I want to thank my family, especially my new wife, for sticking by me through this whole ordeal. Kim Bennett was a gentleman during the campaign. I have the utmost respect for him and his family."
"We ran an incredibly clean, professional, and frugal race, my team and I," Bennett said. "We complied with all the election rules, laws, regulations and procedures."
"I wish to thank the good citizens of this area for their continued faith and support in my ability, even though we came up short," he said.
"It is my hope that Mr. Ward will show true compassion, fairness, consistency, and justice, as he applies his decrees to the people of precinct #4."
Democrat Michael Skiles defeated Republican Robert "Chuck" Fickett in Justice of the Peace District 6, which includes Bowie, San Simon, and the surrounding areas.
Judge Linda Hale is retiring after 10 years as justice of the peace and 25 years working in the court system.
Skiles received 58.68 percent of the vote, while Fickett received 40.69 percent.
"It is a great honor to have received such confidence from our community by being elected Justice of the Peace," Skiles told the Range News. "I wish to thank all those who were so kind and supportive to my family and myself during the campaign months. I look forward to being able to serve in a community with such wonderful people."
Fickett said, "I want to sincerely thank those who supported and voted for me. I don't believe anyone could ask for a greater, loyal group of people."
"To put a little twist on the recent campaign ads," he said, "I disapprove of the election results, but thank God we live in a county where the will of the people prevail and I respect their right to make that decision. I want to congratulate Mike Skiles and wish him well."
Voters in the Willcox Unified School District also elected two school board members last Tuesday.
Board members whose terms end Dec. 31, 2006, are President Jan Kortsen and David Collins, appointed July 2006 to take Calvin Allred's seat when he resigned. The terms are four years.
Both Kortsen and Collins hoped to retain their seats, while former board member Nick Leach looked to return to the board.
The top vote getters were Kortsen and Collins, who took the two available seats.
Kortsen received 38.77 percent of the vote, and Collins received 38.81 percent.
Leach had 21.99 percent of the vote.
"I really appreciate the support and will strive to represent the community and make decisions that are in the best interest of the children," Kortsen told the Range News.
"Thanks to the voters for electing me," Collins said. "I wouldn't have run for the office if I didn't want it. I'll do the best I can do to represent the public. Thanks to all the voters."
Voters rejected the issue of $87.7 million in general obligation bonds to finance a large capital expansion and renovation of the Cochise College's four campuses, including one in Willcox.
The final tally was 18,387 "no" votes to 13,052 "yes."
The bonds would have permitted the college to proceed with its Master Facilities Plan that included new construction and modernization of equipment. Approval would have imposed a secondary property tax on residences at a rate of $0.60 per $100 of net assessed value, amounting to approximately $60 a year on a house with a secondary full cash value of $100,000.
College President Karen Nicodemus believes the Master Facilities Plan is the right plan for the school's physical needs, technological improvement, learning environment and projected future growth.
"Obviously I am disappointed with the outcome because the plan put forward represented five years of due diligence by the college and a belief that we needed to aggressively implement the plan which required the issuance of general obligation bonds," Nicodemus told the Range News.
The community college district encompasses the entire county and the school offers classes in Willcox, Benson, Sierra Vista, Douglas, on Fort Huachuca, and in Nogales. The Master Facilities Plan called for improvements to the Willcox, Benson, Sierra Vista, and Douglas centers.
"Clearly, the majority of voters either disagree with the plan or aspects of the plan," Nicodemus said. "The college's facilities needs have not changed but we need to step back, try to discern the message delivered by the voters and then determine best next steps to ensure the college continues to meet its mission."
"Personally, although saddened by the outcome, I have very much enjoyed meeting many community members throughout the county as I made presentations on the plan. In Willcox, these meetings have included not only a focus on facilities but other ways in which we can continue to serve the community - which we look forward to doing."
In other races, voters elected Democrat Gabrielle Giffords to the District 8 Congressional seat. U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe had held the seat for the last 11 terms, but opted not to run for re-election.
Giffords, who beat Graf handily last Tuesday night, maintained her lead in the county with 49.41 percent of that vote.
Graf, reportedly surprised to have lost in Cochise County, had 46.34 percent of the vote.
Libertarian David F. Nolan received 2.18 percent, while Independent Jay Quick had .10 percent of the vote in the county.
Incumbent Jon Kyl defeated Democratic challenger Jim Pederson for the U.S. Senate.
Pederson received 40.86 percent of the vote, and Kyl received 55.46 percent of the vote in Cochise County.
In the state races, Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano won in a landslide against Len Munsil, the Republican candidate looking to unseat her in the general.
Napolitano received 58.80 percent of the vote, while Munsil had 38.53 percent of the vote in the county.
In the state senate race in District 25, incumbent Marsha Arzberger defeated Republican challenger Mary Ann Black.
Arzberger garnered 56.40 percent of the vote, while Black received 43.45 percent of the vote in the county.
At the county level, voters elected a judge in Superior Court Division 1.
Republican Charles A. Irwin was the top vote getter with 55.33 percent of the vote, while Democratic challenger Joel Borowiec had 44.12 percent.
For other final counts, log onto the county's website at www.cochisecounty.com or the state's website at www.azsos.gov.
(Editor's note: Sierra Vista Herald Reporter Cindy Skalsky and Arizona Range News Associate Editor Ainslee S. Wittig contributed to this report.)
In the state race in District 25, there was no clear winner between incumbent Jennifer Burns and challenger Gail Griffin for one of the two house seats in the district. Election officials reportedly were working long days since last Tuesday counting mailed-in and provisional ballots.
On the day after the election, 53,000 ballots cast in Pima County -- 18 percent -- reportedly had not yet been counted.
Officials with the Pima County Division of Elections told Wick News Service Monday that they might not be finished counting votes until early next week. Which precincts involved were unknown.
Incumbent Rep. Manny Alvarez, a Democrat from Elfrida, took one of the two seats with 25.55 percent of the county vote. Challenger Patricia Fleming was defeated with only 21.45 percent of the vote in the county.
District 25 covers an enormous swatch of ground that essentially covers Cochise County minus Sierra Vista, Pima County minus Tucson, and a large chunk of Maricopa County.
In the race for state representative, former legislator Gail Griffin was the top vote getter in the county with 26.50 percent, while Republican incumbent Jennifer Burns had 24.64 percent of the vote in the county.
According to the tally for the entire district from the Arizona Secretary of State's Office, as of Monday Burns was leading with 17,687 votes to Griffin's 17,137 votes.
In Cochise County, 34,376 voters made their way to the polls last Tuesday, out of a total 58,138-registered voters, a 59 percent voter turnout.
The following are Cochise County election results, which do not become official until the Cochise County Board of Supervisors canvasses the vote, anywhere from six to15 days after the election.
Area residents turned out at the polls last Tuesday to select a new Justice of the Peace for Districts 4 and 6.
Republican Trevor Ward defeated Democrat Kim Bennett in the Willcox race to replace retiring Judge Judy Bethel.
Ward received 59.55 percent of the vote, and Bennett, 40.13 percent.
Once a hotly contested race, it quieted down after September's primary election narrowed the field down to two.
"I want to thank everybody who voted -- the turnout was excellent," Ward said. "I want to thank my family, especially my new wife, for sticking by me through this whole ordeal. Kim Bennett was a gentleman during the campaign. I have the utmost respect for him and his family."
"We ran an incredibly clean, professional, and frugal race, my team and I," Bennett said. "We complied with all the election rules, laws, regulations and procedures."
"I wish to thank the good citizens of this area for their continued faith and support in my ability, even though we came up short," he said.
"It is my hope that Mr. Ward will show true compassion, fairness, consistency, and justice, as he applies his decrees to the people of precinct #4."
Democrat Michael Skiles defeated Republican Robert "Chuck" Fickett in Justice of the Peace District 6, which includes Bowie, San Simon, and the surrounding areas.
Judge Linda Hale is retiring after 10 years as justice of the peace and 25 years working in the court system.
Skiles received 58.68 percent of the vote, while Fickett received 40.69 percent.
"It is a great honor to have received such confidence from our community by being elected Justice of the Peace," Skiles told the Range News. "I wish to thank all those who were so kind and supportive to my family and myself during the campaign months. I look forward to being able to serve in a community with such wonderful people."
Fickett said, "I want to sincerely thank those who supported and voted for me. I don't believe anyone could ask for a greater, loyal group of people."
"To put a little twist on the recent campaign ads," he said, "I disapprove of the election results, but thank God we live in a county where the will of the people prevail and I respect their right to make that decision. I want to congratulate Mike Skiles and wish him well."
Voters in the Willcox Unified School District also elected two school board members last Tuesday.
Board members whose terms end Dec. 31, 2006, are President Jan Kortsen and David Collins, appointed July 2006 to take Calvin Allred's seat when he resigned. The terms are four years.
Both Kortsen and Collins hoped to retain their seats, while former board member Nick Leach looked to return to the board.
The top vote getters were Kortsen and Collins, who took the two available seats.
Kortsen received 38.77 percent of the vote, and Collins received 38.81 percent.
Leach had 21.99 percent of the vote.
"I really appreciate the support and will strive to represent the community and make decisions that are in the best interest of the children," Kortsen told the Range News.
"Thanks to the voters for electing me," Collins said. "I wouldn't have run for the office if I didn't want it. I'll do the best I can do to represent the public. Thanks to all the voters."
Voters rejected the issue of $87.7 million in general obligation bonds to finance a large capital expansion and renovation of the Cochise College's four campuses, including one in Willcox.
The final tally was 18,387 "no" votes to 13,052 "yes."
The bonds would have permitted the college to proceed with its Master Facilities Plan that included new construction and modernization of equipment. Approval would have imposed a secondary property tax on residences at a rate of $0.60 per $100 of net assessed value, amounting to approximately $60 a year on a house with a secondary full cash value of $100,000.
College President Karen Nicodemus believes the Master Facilities Plan is the right plan for the school's physical needs, technological improvement, learning environment and projected future growth.
"Obviously I am disappointed with the outcome because the plan put forward represented five years of due diligence by the college and a belief that we needed to aggressively implement the plan which required the issuance of general obligation bonds," Nicodemus told the Range News.
The community college district encompasses the entire county and the school offers classes in Willcox, Benson, Sierra Vista, Douglas, on Fort Huachuca, and in Nogales. The Master Facilities Plan called for improvements to the Willcox, Benson, Sierra Vista, and Douglas centers.
"Clearly, the majority of voters either disagree with the plan or aspects of the plan," Nicodemus said. "The college's facilities needs have not changed but we need to step back, try to discern the message delivered by the voters and then determine best next steps to ensure the college continues to meet its mission."
"Personally, although saddened by the outcome, I have very much enjoyed meeting many community members throughout the county as I made presentations on the plan. In Willcox, these meetings have included not only a focus on facilities but other ways in which we can continue to serve the community - which we look forward to doing."
In other races, voters elected Democrat Gabrielle Giffords to the District 8 Congressional seat. U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe had held the seat for the last 11 terms, but opted not to run for re-election.
Giffords, who beat Graf handily last Tuesday night, maintained her lead in the county with 49.41 percent of that vote.
Graf, reportedly surprised to have lost in Cochise County, had 46.34 percent of the vote.
Libertarian David F. Nolan received 2.18 percent, while Independent Jay Quick had .10 percent of the vote in the county.
Incumbent Jon Kyl defeated Democratic challenger Jim Pederson for the U.S. Senate.
Pederson received 40.86 percent of the vote, and Kyl received 55.46 percent of the vote in Cochise County.
In the state races, Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano won in a landslide against Len Munsil, the Republican candidate looking to unseat her in the general.
Napolitano received 58.80 percent of the vote, while Munsil had 38.53 percent of the vote in the county.
In the state senate race in District 25, incumbent Marsha Arzberger defeated Republican challenger Mary Ann Black.
Arzberger garnered 56.40 percent of the vote, while Black received 43.45 percent of the vote in the county.
At the county level, voters elected a judge in Superior Court Division 1.
Republican Charles A. Irwin was the top vote getter with 55.33 percent of the vote, while Democratic challenger Joel Borowiec had 44.12 percent.
For other final counts, log onto the county's website at www.cochisecounty.com or the state's website at www.azsos.gov.
(Editor's note: Sierra Vista Herald Reporter Cindy Skalsky and Arizona Range News Associate Editor Ainslee S. Wittig contributed to this report.)
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