A huge win for Michael Heldman tonight - anytime you get over 75% of the vote, especially against a well known opponent, you are doing something right. This might give Heldman some clout (or at least garner some public support) when it comes time to talk budget with the commissioners, discussing a jail expansion or the possibility of another temporary justice center tax.
Stephen Oman has now lost three commissioners races in a row, but you have to wonder what would have happened if Bradley Griffin wasn't running. Was there some sort of anti-Walton sentiment that was muted by Griffin's presence? Considering Walton did not receive a majority of the votes, it was not exactly a ringing endorsement of someone who has the credentials but may not be communicating effectively with the electorate.
Besides the Hancock Park levy passing so handily, there were not many other surprises, although the number of votes for Democratic Presidential delegates did pique my interest. I wonder if this was due to the mobilization of Democratic voters, or the call to arms by political commentators like Rush Limbaugh urging GOPers to vote for Clinton. I hope it was the former, because the other goes against the principles I value.
On the national level, two things to bring out of what happened tonight:
- McCain is now the Republican nominee and will do everything he can to start raising money and set the political agenda while the Democrats settle on a nominee over the next three months (or longer)
- The race to become the Democratic nominee, despite Clinton winning three of four states tonight, barely changed from where we began the day...Obama is still in the lead, and when all the votes are counted, he may even come out earning more delegates for today's trouble. Nice system they implemented, huh?
It was great to finally see Ohio play a small part in Presidential primary politics; let's just hope we come up with some system for 2012 that is fair to every state and eliminates all the bickering and issues we have seen this cycle. Anyway, it is quickly approaching 1:30a. If Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman have had enough and are turning the anchor desk over to Norah O'Donnell, it must be time to go to bed.
Registered Voters 51695 - Cards Cast 21109 40.83%
Num. Report Precinct 63 - Num. Reporting 63 100.00%
DEM DEL AND ALT NATL CONV
HILLARY CLINTON - 55.53%
JOHN EDWARDS - 1.43%
BARACK OBAMA - 43.04%
DEM STATE COMM MAN
CHARLES R. GRAY - 48.78%
DONALD L. TRAXLER - 51.22%
REP DEL AND ALT LARGE NATL CONV
MIKE HUCKABEE - 31.72%
JOHN MCCAIN - 55.29%
RON PAUL - 7.65%
MITT ROMNEY - 3.58%
FRED THOMPSON - 1.77%
REP COUNTY COMMISSIONER 1-2-09
EDWARD D. INGOLD - 54.24%
ROBERT J. KUHLMAN - 45.76%
REP COUNTY COMMISSIONER 1-3-09
BRADLEY L. GRIFFIN - 14.48%
STEPHEN F. OMAN - 37.27%
EMILY A. WALTON - 48.24%
REP SHERIFF
MICHAEL E. HELDMAN - 78.25%
THOMAS L. RENNINGER - 21.75%
REP COUNTY TREASURER
CARL MOSES - 7.98%
LARRY SETTLEMIRE - 17.44%
J. STEVE WELTON - 74.58%
REP CORONER
MARK R. FOX - 58.68%
JOHN P. ZIEGLER - 41.32%
ARCADIA TAX LEVY
FOR THE TAX LEVY - 52.45%
AGAINST THE TAX LEVY - 47.55%
MCCOMB BOND ISSUE
FOR THE BOND ISSUE - 47.92%
AGAINST BOND ISSUE - 52.08%
NORTH BALTIMORE TAX LEVY
FOR THE TAX LEVY - 100.00%
AGAINST THE TAX LEVY - 0.00%
VAN BUREN TAX LEVY
FOR THE TAX LEVY - 53.75%
AGAINST THE TAX LEVY - 46.25%
HANCOCK PARK DISTRICT TAX LEVY
FOR THE TAX LEVY - 65.81%
AGAINST THE TAX LEVY - 34.19%
Results from the Texas Democratic Caucus have not yet been announced.
updated 1:30a 03-05-08
-RSKnopfJr
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