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Election 2008: County reveals political colors in recent vote
By Keith J. Allen/Wick Communications
SIERRA VISTA - When Cochise County voters went to the polls on Tuesday, they did more than cast votes for candidates and issues.
They also revealed how they lean politically and how they stand on issues that face the state.
The county vote totals heavily favored U.S. Sen. John McCain for president and were in line with seven of the eight statewide propositions on the ballot, according to figures from Cochise County elections officials and the Arizona Secretary of State's Office.
All of the tallies are unofficial, and the figures are from an update made by county elections officials that includes ballots that were not counted on election day. Officials said last week that the outstanding votes were from uncounted early and provisional ballots.
As of Friday, the county had tallied results from 46,875 ballots.
When it came to picking a president, the county was firmly behind McCain, with 27,590, or about 59.2 percent, casting a vote for the Republican candidate and 17,944, or about 38.5 percent, voting in favor of Democratic candidate and president-elect Barack Obama.
McCain, who is from Arizona, also won the statewide vote at 53.7 percent. Obama received 45.1 percent.
In the Congressional District 8 contest, incumbent Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords narrowly edged out state Senate President Tim Bee in the county. Bee had been ahead in the county on election day, but early and provision ballots pushed the Democrat past the Republican. Giffords received 22,376 votes, or 48.6 percent, to Bee's tally of 22,145 votes, or 48 percent.
In the total tally from throughout the congressional district, which includes portions of Cochise, Santa Cruz, Pinal and Pima counties, Giffords won re-election by a 55 percent to 43 percent margin.
In the four state legislative races, county voters showed a tendency to lean toward the Republican candidates.
In the District 25 Senate race, 15,046 Cochise County voters, or 51.1 percent, cast ballots for Republican Mary Ann Black, while Manny Alvarez, a Democrat who currently represents the county in the state House of Representatives, received 14,351 votes, or about 48.8 percent. Alvarez looks to have won the seat by a 53 percent to 47 percent margin, riding a large difference in votes in Santa Cruz County - 7,469 to 2,273.
In the District 30 Senate race, current District 30 state Rep. Jonathon Paton received 9,827 votes, or about 63.6 percent, to Democrat Georgette Valle's 5,591 votes, or 36.2 percent. Paton, a Republican, won the seat by a 60 percent to 40 percent margin.
In District 25's race for two seats in the state House of Representatives, Republican David Stevens was the top vote-getter in the county, receiving 14,490 votes, or 27.9 percent. Democrat Pat Fleming received the second most votes with 13,823, or 26.6 percent. Stevens and Fleming have sought the office before. Republican Timathy Davies received 11,785 votes, or 22.7 percent, and Democrat Ric Boyer received 11,748 votes, or 22.6 percent.
Stevens, Fleming and Boyer live in the Sierra Vista area. Davies is from Marana.
In the unofficial tally for the district, which includes portions of Cochise, Pima, Pinal, Maricopa and Santa Cruz counties, Fleming leads with 29.1 percent of the vote, Stevens has 25.3 percent, Boyer has 24.7 percent and Davies has 20.9 percent.
In the District 30 race for two seats in the state House, the two Republicans, Frank Antenori and Sierra Vistan David Gowan, outpaced Democrat Andrea Dalessandro for votes in Cochise County. Gowan received 9,592 votes, or 40.9 percent, with Antenori receiving 7,385, or about 31.5 percent, and Dalessandro receiving 6,426, or 27.4 percent.
In the districtwide tally, which includes votes from Cochise, Pima and Santa Cruz counties, Gowan led with nearly 34.7 percent, followed by Antenori with 34.1 percent and Dalessandro with 31.1 percent.
The votes for three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission also saw Cochise County voters leaning Republican.
Current state Rep. Marian McClure received the most votes in Cochise County, with 20,744, or 17.7 percent. She was followed by fellow Republican Bob Stump with 20,257 votes, or 17.2 percent, Democrat Sandra Kennedy with 19,804 votes, or 16.9 percent, and Republican Barry Wong with 19,694 votes, 16.8 percent. Current Cochise County Supervisor Paul Newman received 19,475 votes, or about 16.6 percent, and Democrat Sam George received 17,182, or about 14.7 percent.
The statewide results show Kennedy and Newman winning seats after receiving nearly the same amount of votes, both with 18.1 percent. As of Saturday, Newman was the top vote-getter in the commission race with 926,943 votes received, about 1,600 votes more than Kennedy.
While the results are unofficial, Stump looks to have secured the open third seat on the commission with 16.2 percent of the vote. George also received 16.2 percent of the vote, but trails Stump by 462 votes as of noon on Saturday. Wong received 15.8 percent of the vote, and McClure received 15.6 percent.
In the eight statewide ballot propositions, the county results nearly mimic the results on the state level. County voters weren't in line only on Proposition 101.
In the vote for Proposition 100, which is known as "Protect Our Homes," 81 percent said "yes" and 19 percent said "no." The state result shows 76.7 percent in favor and 23.3 percent against.
With Proposition 101, known as "Medical Choice for Arizona," 54.1 percent of county voters were in favor of the measure compared to 45.9 percent against. Statewide, the measure failed, with 50.2 percent against and 49.8 percent for.
In regards to Proposition 102, which was the proposed act that puts a constitutional ban on gay marriages, 63.5 percent of county voters approved of the measure, while 36.5 percent were against. The statewide margin was 56.3 percent for and 43.7 percent against.
County voters stood against Proposition 105, which was known as "Majority Rules - Let the People Decide," with 58.5 percent against and 41.5 percent were for the proposal. The statewide margin was wider, with 66.1 percent against and 33.9 percent in favor.
County residents also strongly stood against Proposition 200, which is known as the "Payday Loan Reform Act," with 62.4 percent against and 37.6 percent in favor. Statewide, 59.8 percent said "no" and 40.2 percent said "yes."
Proposition 201, known as the "Homeowners' Bill of Rights," failed in the county, with 77 percent against and 23 percent for the measure. That was nearly identical to the statewide result, which was 78.2 percent against and 21.8 percent in favor of it.
Proposition 202, which was called "Stop Illegal Hiring" and dealt with revising the state's employers sanctions law, was opposed by a majority in the county, with 56.7 percent against and 43.3 percent in favor of the measure. Statewide, the measure failed as 59.3 percent of voters were against it and 40.7 percent were in favor.
Proposition 300, which asked voters to increase the annual salary of state lawmakers from $24,000 a year to $30,000 a year, failed in the county by a 67.4 percent to 32.6 percent margin. Voters statewide also rejected the measure, with 64.3 percent against and 35.7 percent voting in favor.
Herald/Review Managing Editor Keith J. Allen can be reached at 515-4610 or keith.allen@svherald.com.
They also revealed how they lean politically and how they stand on issues that face the state.
The county vote totals heavily favored U.S. Sen. John McCain for president and were in line with seven of the eight statewide propositions on the ballot, according to figures from Cochise County elections officials and the Arizona Secretary of State's Office.
All of the tallies are unofficial, and the figures are from an update made by county elections officials that includes ballots that were not counted on election day. Officials said last week that the outstanding votes were from uncounted early and provisional ballots.
As of Friday, the county had tallied results from 46,875 ballots.
When it came to picking a president, the county was firmly behind McCain, with 27,590, or about 59.2 percent, casting a vote for the Republican candidate and 17,944, or about 38.5 percent, voting in favor of Democratic candidate and president-elect Barack Obama.
McCain, who is from Arizona, also won the statewide vote at 53.7 percent. Obama received 45.1 percent.
In the Congressional District 8 contest, incumbent Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords narrowly edged out state Senate President Tim Bee in the county. Bee had been ahead in the county on election day, but early and provision ballots pushed the Democrat past the Republican. Giffords received 22,376 votes, or 48.6 percent, to Bee's tally of 22,145 votes, or 48 percent.
In the total tally from throughout the congressional district, which includes portions of Cochise, Santa Cruz, Pinal and Pima counties, Giffords won re-election by a 55 percent to 43 percent margin.
In the four state legislative races, county voters showed a tendency to lean toward the Republican candidates.
In the District 25 Senate race, 15,046 Cochise County voters, or 51.1 percent, cast ballots for Republican Mary Ann Black, while Manny Alvarez, a Democrat who currently represents the county in the state House of Representatives, received 14,351 votes, or about 48.8 percent. Alvarez looks to have won the seat by a 53 percent to 47 percent margin, riding a large difference in votes in Santa Cruz County - 7,469 to 2,273.
In the District 30 Senate race, current District 30 state Rep. Jonathon Paton received 9,827 votes, or about 63.6 percent, to Democrat Georgette Valle's 5,591 votes, or 36.2 percent. Paton, a Republican, won the seat by a 60 percent to 40 percent margin.
In District 25's race for two seats in the state House of Representatives, Republican David Stevens was the top vote-getter in the county, receiving 14,490 votes, or 27.9 percent. Democrat Pat Fleming received the second most votes with 13,823, or 26.6 percent. Stevens and Fleming have sought the office before. Republican Timathy Davies received 11,785 votes, or 22.7 percent, and Democrat Ric Boyer received 11,748 votes, or 22.6 percent.
Stevens, Fleming and Boyer live in the Sierra Vista area. Davies is from Marana.
In the unofficial tally for the district, which includes portions of Cochise, Pima, Pinal, Maricopa and Santa Cruz counties, Fleming leads with 29.1 percent of the vote, Stevens has 25.3 percent, Boyer has 24.7 percent and Davies has 20.9 percent.
In the District 30 race for two seats in the state House, the two Republicans, Frank Antenori and Sierra Vistan David Gowan, outpaced Democrat Andrea Dalessandro for votes in Cochise County. Gowan received 9,592 votes, or 40.9 percent, with Antenori receiving 7,385, or about 31.5 percent, and Dalessandro receiving 6,426, or 27.4 percent.
In the districtwide tally, which includes votes from Cochise, Pima and Santa Cruz counties, Gowan led with nearly 34.7 percent, followed by Antenori with 34.1 percent and Dalessandro with 31.1 percent.
The votes for three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission also saw Cochise County voters leaning Republican.
Current state Rep. Marian McClure received the most votes in Cochise County, with 20,744, or 17.7 percent. She was followed by fellow Republican Bob Stump with 20,257 votes, or 17.2 percent, Democrat Sandra Kennedy with 19,804 votes, or 16.9 percent, and Republican Barry Wong with 19,694 votes, 16.8 percent. Current Cochise County Supervisor Paul Newman received 19,475 votes, or about 16.6 percent, and Democrat Sam George received 17,182, or about 14.7 percent.
The statewide results show Kennedy and Newman winning seats after receiving nearly the same amount of votes, both with 18.1 percent. As of Saturday, Newman was the top vote-getter in the commission race with 926,943 votes received, about 1,600 votes more than Kennedy.
While the results are unofficial, Stump looks to have secured the open third seat on the commission with 16.2 percent of the vote. George also received 16.2 percent of the vote, but trails Stump by 462 votes as of noon on Saturday. Wong received 15.8 percent of the vote, and McClure received 15.6 percent.
In the eight statewide ballot propositions, the county results nearly mimic the results on the state level. County voters weren't in line only on Proposition 101.
In the vote for Proposition 100, which is known as "Protect Our Homes," 81 percent said "yes" and 19 percent said "no." The state result shows 76.7 percent in favor and 23.3 percent against.
With Proposition 101, known as "Medical Choice for Arizona," 54.1 percent of county voters were in favor of the measure compared to 45.9 percent against. Statewide, the measure failed, with 50.2 percent against and 49.8 percent for.
In regards to Proposition 102, which was the proposed act that puts a constitutional ban on gay marriages, 63.5 percent of county voters approved of the measure, while 36.5 percent were against. The statewide margin was 56.3 percent for and 43.7 percent against.
County voters stood against Proposition 105, which was known as "Majority Rules - Let the People Decide," with 58.5 percent against and 41.5 percent were for the proposal. The statewide margin was wider, with 66.1 percent against and 33.9 percent in favor.
County residents also strongly stood against Proposition 200, which is known as the "Payday Loan Reform Act," with 62.4 percent against and 37.6 percent in favor. Statewide, 59.8 percent said "no" and 40.2 percent said "yes."
Proposition 201, known as the "Homeowners' Bill of Rights," failed in the county, with 77 percent against and 23 percent for the measure. That was nearly identical to the statewide result, which was 78.2 percent against and 21.8 percent in favor of it.
Proposition 202, which was called "Stop Illegal Hiring" and dealt with revising the state's employers sanctions law, was opposed by a majority in the county, with 56.7 percent against and 43.3 percent in favor of the measure. Statewide, the measure failed as 59.3 percent of voters were against it and 40.7 percent were in favor.
Proposition 300, which asked voters to increase the annual salary of state lawmakers from $24,000 a year to $30,000 a year, failed in the county by a 67.4 percent to 32.6 percent margin. Voters statewide also rejected the measure, with 64.3 percent against and 35.7 percent voting in favor.
Herald/Review Managing Editor Keith J. Allen can be reached at 515-4610 or keith.allen@svherald.com.
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| What's Happening | Election 2008: Giffords, Alvarez, Dever and Searle are winners; |
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