KINGWOOD — Samantha Stone won the Republican nomination for Preston County commissioner Tuesday.
Also in the election, unofficial totals showed voters passed a countywide fire levy for the first time. The levy, which is required by law to have at least 60 percent of the vote, appeared to pass, with 4,779 votes (62.23 percent) for the levy and 2,901 (37.77 percent) against it.
The five-year levy will provide money for all 12 volunteer fire departments for training and equipment, and some funds for the county fire association, which will benefit the departments.
Six candidates sought the Republican Preston Commission nomination after Commission President Craig Jennings announced his intention not to seek re-election. One candidate, Ann Armstrong, withdrew from the race, but her name was still on the ballot.
Only one Democrat, John Crippin, sought that party’s nomination. He received 2,009 votes.
Unofficial totals with all precincts reporting showed Stone, 1,215 votes (25.73 percent); Lucas Tatham, 1,180 (24.98 percent); Art Lipscomb, 1,111 (23.52 percent); Karen Bright, 714 (15.12 percent); Tracy Polce, 400 (8.47 percent); Armstrong, 103 (2.18 percent).
Stone said Tuesday several candidates worked hard before the election. “I wasn’t giving up,” Stone said. “[Monday] night I was out until 11 o’clock, talking to anybody who would listen.”
Stone, a first-time political candidate, said she felt blessed to have gotten the nomination.
Tatham, who led the ticket until the final precincts came in, said he would, “definitely stay involved. I enjoyed the process. I learned a lot about the county and also learned what I don’t know and what I need to do”
