KINGWOOD — With all 28 precincts reporting, unofficial results showed Rhonda Sypolt taking a seat at the magistrate bench in Preston County.
The retirement of Magistrate Eugene Jenkins at the end of his current term left the Division 3 seat without an incumbent on the ballot, guaranteeing a new face in the courtroom.
Four candidates sought the seat. Unofficial results showed Sypolt with 2,599 votes, followed closely by James Maier with 2,391 votes, then Peggy Pase with 1,694 votes and Aaron Knotts with 1,684 votes.
Results are unofficial until the canvass next week.
Preston County has three magistrates. Candidates choose which of three divisions in which they want to run. Division 1 incumbent P.L. Grimm and Division 2 incumbent Bo Ward ran unopposed. Grimm received 7,488 votes and Ward 7,350 votes.
It was the third time Sypolt, a former magistrate court clerk, sought the office.
“I’m very thankful for all of the people who supported me,” she said. “And I’m very thankful for all the people who let me put signs in their yards and especially the voters. I’m honored.”
Magistrate races are nonpartisan and decided in the primary.
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