Braxton Citizens' News, Government

Williams, Boggs Win Locally

Eddie Williams will be the next Braxton County Sheriff and Brent Boggs was elected to the Braxton County Commission in last week’s General Election according to the unofficial results. The ballots will be canvased on Tuesday, October 12 followed by the official certification of voting totals. 

In a record-breaking turnout, voters also followed state and national trends in the remainder of the races.

A total of 63.64% of Braxton’s 8,358 registered voters went to the polls during the early voting period and on election day. Early voting saw 2,028 individuals cast their ballots, while 3,156 visited the county’s 18 voting precincts on November 5th. The numbers represent what is believed to be a record turnout in Braxton County.

Former two term Sheriff Eddie Williams unseated incumbent Lou DellaMea, 2,914 votes to 2,055 to become the next Sheriff of Braxton County.

Long time House of Delegates member Brent Boggs easily won the seat up for grabs on the County Commission with 3,238 votes to Republican challenger Tim Tosten’s 1,796. He replaces Melvin Gum who chose not to seek reelection.

On the National level, Braxton voters followed state trends in their support of Donald J. Trump for president over challenger Kamala Harris, 3,956 to 1,224.

Governor Jim Justice also received the overwhelming support of Braxton voters by a margin of 3,775 to Glenn Elliott’s 1,250 votes.

Carol Miller saw similar results locally, in her bid for reelection to the US House of Representatives. She received 3,405 votes to challenger Chris Bob Reed’s 1,336.

Local voters also supported Patrick Morrisey in his bid to become the next Governor of West Virginia. He received 3,399 votes to Steve Williams’ 1,526.

In other state races, Kris Warner received 3,673 votes to Thornton Cooper’s 1,238 for Secretary of State; Mark Hunt garnered 3,521 votes over challengers Mary Ann Claytor’s 1,332 to become the next State Auditor; Ken Leonhardt easily won reelection as Commissioner of Agriculture with 3,458 local votes to Deborah Stiles’ 1,432; JB McCuskey won the race for Attorney General with 3,576 local votes to Tresa Toriseva’s 1,317; Larry Pack was unopposed in his bid for State Treasurer.

Robbie Morries prevailed in Braxton and the District to be the next Senator for the 11th Senatorial District. He received 3,596 votes to Mandy Smith Weirch’s 1,296.

Lori Dittman received 4,567 votes to earn another term in the House of Delegates. Dwayne Vandevender got 4,100 votes for Prosecuting Attorney while Edie Tichner received 4,095 votes for the office of Assessor. Dwayne Hall received 4,077 votes for County Surveyor. All four were unopposed.

Local voters were marginally against the little publicized constitutional amendment on the ballot that would have reaffirmed state law to make assisted suicide illegal: 2,232 opposed adding it to the state constitution while 2,131 favored the change. The amendment narrowly passed state wide.