The Pilot News - Dems nearly sweep Starke seats

Voter turnout was high in this presidential election year, with 9,670 voters turning out. That total included an amazingly high absentee vote, with 1,997 people “voting early” by casting absentee ballots.
Election results came in fast, with the last precinct - Washington 2 - coming in just before 8 p.m. Tuesday night.
About 7.5 percent of the voters, 1,281, voted a straight Democratic ticket, while 985 voted a straight Republican ticket.
Commissioner upset
The biggest upset of the night came in the race for the District 3 seat on the Starke County Commission. Incumbent Kent Danford was soundly beaten by Democratic newcomer Daniel Bridegroom.
Bridegroom got 5,114 votes (56 percent) to Danford’s 4,005 votes (44 percent. The margin was 1,109 votes.
“I feel like I did the job for four years. I approached it as a taxpayer, not as a politician. The people wanted a change and they got one,” Danford said.
The other commissioner race involved two strong local political families. Republican Kathy Norem edged out Democrat Mark Allen by 73 votes. Norem had 4,648 votes (50 percent) to Allen’s 4,575, (50 percent).
This election will switch the commissioner’s back to a Democratic majority - Bridegroom and incumbent Mark Milo - with one Republican, Norem. Milo was not up for re-election.
State Representative District 17
Democrat Nancy Dembowski won Starke County, and the race, to retain her General Assembly seat. She received 5,451 votes in Starke County, beating Republican challenger Mark MacKillop who had 3,774 votes. Dembowski received 59 percent of the local vote to MacKillop’s 41 percent. MacKillop is currently Starke County surveyor.
Dembowski was both thrilled with the results and by the support she received from Marshall County.
“I am absolutely amazed I won Marshall County. I will be the one to carry your voice to Indianapolis,” she said.
Dembowski also said that this year she would be working on the budget.
3-way surveyor race
Former Knox Mayor and Democrat Dennis Estok became Starke County Surveyor Tuesday night, winning by a comfortable margin despite an unprecedented three-way race. Estok had 45 percent of the vote, 4,154. Republican Durand (Randy) Johnson got 2,969 votes (32 percent). Lee Nagai, who joined the race as an incumbent, received 23 percent of the votes, 2,133.
Estok said he has no doubt that he can fulfill the duties of the office of surveyor successfully.
“If you know me and my family, you know I can do the job and get it right,” Estok said.
County Council
Voters picked three County Council members, out of five candidates. Returning to the council were President Mark Smith, the top vote-getter with 5,671 votes. Coming in next was incumbent Jennifer Davis with 5,327 votes. Joining the board is Judy Benninghoff, who received 4,659 votes. All three are Democrats, and their election does not change the political makeup of the council. Coming in fourth was Republican Kay Gudeman, with 4,499 votes, and fifth was Rutherford Walters, with 3,257 votes.
Treasurer
The new county treasurer will be Linda Belork, a Democrat and Knox School Board member, who grabbed 5,368 votes (60 percent) to beat Republican and former Hamlet councilman Dave Kesvormas, who received 3,528 votes (40 percent).
Belork’s win will create a vacancy on the Knox School Board, which will be filled by a board vote.
Belork said that she plans to put the needs of the people first. And she will personally be available to listen to their needs and/or concerns.
“I’m going to make sure the taxpayers are taken care of firsthand. I plan to give the public the best possible service because they deserve better. People will be able to speak to an individual instead of the former automated phone service,” she said.
Knox School Board
Three seats were open for Center Township, with two incumbents returned to their seats. Results in order were: Newcomer William Kirk Bennett, 2,207 votes; incumbent Jerry Fletcher, 1,908 votes; incumbent Harold Welter, 1,799 votes; incumbent Gary Dulin was voted out with 1,697 votes; Wayne Landry had 1,183 votes; and Terry Turner, 1,064 votes.
In the California-Washington board seat, Nathan Marcum won with 1,998 votes, defeating Peter Masson, 1,362 votes.
Here’s a race by race breakdown of other races. National and state races reflect only Starke County totals, and may not indicate the final victors. Percentages have been rounded off for easier reading:
• Presidential race: The county picked Barack Obama and Joe Biden, the Democratic team, with 4,778 for Obama over 4,473 for the John McCain-Sarah Palin ticket.
Interestingly, 195 local residents voted for Libertarian Bob Barr, in a county where the Libertarians are rarely even mentioned. There were also a surprising 33 write-in votes for president.
• Governor’s race: Democrat Jill Long Thompson took Starke County, even though she lost statewide to incumbent Mitch Daniels. Thompson garnered 4,726 votes to Daniels’ 4,339 votes. Again, a Libertarian, Andy Horning, got 161 votes here and there were four write-ins.
• Attorney General: Democrat Linda Pence had 4,842 votes locally, while Republican Greg Zoeller had 3,912 votes. That margin was 55 to 45 percent.
• Superintendent of Public Instruction (State School Superintendent): Democrat Richard Wood won here, with 4,614 votes, while Republican Tony Bennett got 3,971 votes. There were six write-ins.
• U.S. Rep. Dist. 2: Current office holder Joe Donnelly, a Democrat, won handily, getting almost 68 percent of the vote. Donnelly had 6,337 votes while Republican challenger Luke Puckett had 2,270. Libertarian Mark Vogel had an unusual 246, or 2.63 percent.
Voters also voted “yes” on the ballot questions to retain five Indiana judges.
• State Senate District 5: Local residents voted for Democrat Larry Balmer, who had 4,578 votes over incumbent Republican Ed Charbonneau, who had 4,322 votes. As of deadline, Charbonneau was the projected winner with 55 percent of the votes and 97 percent of the precincts counted.
Ed Charbonneau was pleased with the way his campaign was run and thankful to the voters who helped to put him in the senate.
“I’m very proud of the campaign that I ran. I tried to keep focused on the issues and facts. I appreciate the confidence that the voters have shown in me. I’m very thankful for their support. I look forward to representing everyone in the fifth district as we prepare for the 2009 session,” Charbonneau said.
Balmer was pleased with Starke County’s Democratic support. Balmer accepted his defeat with his head held high.
“I was so pleased to see so many Starke County Democratic votes. The sun still comes up and life goes on,” he said.