District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith received 54.8 percent of votes in the Tuesday, June 6 primary, giving him a considerable lead over candidates Brenda Clark (26.0 percent) and Jo Bennett (19.2 percent).
There are 5,285 registered voters in Supervisorial District 2. Of these, less than one-third or 30.5 percent participated in the June 6 election. The Lake County Registrar of Voters released its semiofficial results at 11:12 p.m. June 6.
“My reaction is, I”m glad it”s over,” said Smith who, after attending the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce dinner meeting, spent the evening hanging thank-you signs. “I went on the computer and got the beginning results and then I went out and hung thank-you signs. Win or lose, that”s what I would do.”
Smith characterized election campaigning by all competitors as clean, fair and easy. “I had two opponents who were trying really hard but I think they needed more experience to show what they could do.” Smith said he will seek one more term beyond the four-year term that commences in January 2007 and advised would-be opponents to get involved in the community. “They should put in their time, spend time in the community and learn what the community needs.”
A countywide election awarded 59.3 percent of votes to Dave Geck in the race for Lake County Superintendent of Schools. His challenger, Don Boyd, received 40.7 percent. Countywide, voter participation was 33.2 percent.
In Supervisorial District 3, incumbent Gary Lewis and challenger Denise Rushing will face off in the November election. Rushing was the top vote getter, with 46.4 percent, but needed a majority to win. Lewis, in comparison, received 34.5 percent and challenger Shalean Smith received 19.1 percent. Only 39.6 percent of voters in District 3 particpated in the June 6 election.
Contact Cynthia Parkhil at cparkhill@clearlakeobserver.com.
