Tuesday night’s contests for the state House of Delegates in Marion and Taylor counties yielded one close contest and wins by incumbents in others.
Rick Garcia, a former Marion County commissioner, narrowly bested Jon Dodds in the race for the 76th House.
Garcia, a Democrat, won with 3,554 votes – or a little more than 50% — to the 3,425 ballots cast for his Republican challenger, Dodds.
The new delegate comes from an old-line political family in Fairmont. His late father, Manny, served several terms on city council through the 1990s.
In the 75th House race, Republican incumbent Phil Mallow outlasted Stephanie Tomana on the Democrat ballot, 4,455 votes to 3,557.
Republican Michael DeVault is going back to the 74th House for a second term, outpacing his Democrat challenger Frankie Delapas by more than 3,600 votes: 6,009-2,333.
Bryan Smith was unopposed in his race for Taylor County’s 73rd District in the House, netting 468 votes.
Election totals are unofficial until canvassing.
