BUCKHANNON -- Buckhannon voters overwhelmingly returned Mayor Jim Knorr to office Monday, in one of two area municipal elections.
Knorr garnered 369 votes, easily surpassing challengers Clifford J. Newman (127), Scot Wentz (167) and Dusty Zickefoose (70), according to city election records.
Five candidates were vying for three open City Council seats, with voters returning two incumbents.
Newcomer J. David Thomas led all vote-getters with 468, followed by incumbents Keith "Skeeter" Queen (395) and Pam Cuppari (353). Incumbent Harley A. Brown (344) and Mike Michael (295) rounded out the ballot.
Voters also approved the continuation of an excess levy to fund the Charles Gibson Library, 564-160.
The excess levy taxes Class I property 1.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. Class II property is taxed 3 cents, and Class IV property is taxed 6 cents per $100.
The extension would keep the levy in place until 2010, said Assistant Recorder Amberle Jenkins. The levy has been in place since the 1940s, Jenkins said.
Voter turnout appears to be in the 24 percent range, "about the same as it was in the last election," Jenkins said.
In Lost Creek, six-year incumbent Mayor Edward Corkrean narrowly lost to challenger Rondal Lake 56-53.
The only other contested race pitted incumbent Recorder Amy Dawson against challenger Kathy Goldsmith. Dawson retained her seat 60-49.
Ballot commissioners recorded 107 regular and two absentee ballots, said head commissioner Cynthia Wotasek.
"There are 190 registered voters, so I guess that's pretty good," she said.
Because only five people ran for City Council, they all were elected. They were incumbents Amy M. Rogers and Regina Mealey, as well as newcomers Patricia Lake, Sharon Smith McDonald and Frank Gump.
Metro Editor Jim Fisher can be reached at 626-1446 or by e-mail at jfisher@exponent-telegram.com
