MASON COUNTY — Four of the most closely watched local political races in Mason County were decided on Tuesday with voters choosing who they want to run for sheriff, commissioner and delegate in the 13th and 14th districts in the November general election.

With all the controversy surrounding the Mason County Sheriff’s Department these past many months, many eyes were fixed on just who voters would pick to go toe-to-toe in November. For the Democrats, Greg Powers came out on top with 1,754 votes which was 63 percent of the vote and for the Republicans, Gordon Clark came out a winner with 1,478 votes with 59 percent of the vote.

In the race for sheriff on the Democratic ticket, John Paul Casey received 595 votes, Donnie Kapp received 247 votes and Jim Will had 182 votes. In the race for sheriff on the Republican ticket, Curtis S. McConihay had 733 votes while Joe Frank had 260 votes.

In the hotly contested race for county commission, for the Republicans, Tracy Sturgeon Doolittle was the winner with 926 votes which was 36 percent of the vote while Democrats chose Mickey Whalen as their winner with 1,238 votes which was 43 percent of the vote.

In the race for commissioner on the Republican ticket, Garry Peck had 728 votes which was 28 percent of the vote, Marketta Crum had 490 votes which was 19 percent of the vote and Matthew Keefer had 382 votes which was 15 percent of the vote. In the race for commissioner on the Democratic ticket, Paul Wray had 888 votes which was 31 percent of the vote while Gene Zopp had 689 votes which was 24 percent of the vote.

In the 13th District for the West Virginia House of Delegates, Democrats chose Brady R. Paxton as their winner with 1,033 votes with challenger Helen Martin receiving 696 votes. In the race for the 13th, Republicans chose Scott Cadle as their winner with 912 votes, followed by Brian”Scotty” Scott with 419 votes, Nathan “Nate” Westfall with 180 votes and Harold Landers with 154 votes.

In the 14th District for the West Virginia House of Delegates, Democrats chose Jimmie Wood, Jr. with 999 votes, followed by Samantha Fooce with 371 votes and Kermit E. Beaver with 198 votes. In the race for the 14th Republicans chose Jim Butler with 645 votes, followed by John C. Casey with 492 votes and Darrell Justin Black with 227 votes.

(Editor’s note, the results for votes in the 13th and 14th District in Putnam County were not known at press time.)

In other races of note:

President Democrats - Barack Obama, 1,717 votes, Keith Judd, 952 votes. GOP - Mitt Romney, 1,638 votes; Rick Santorum, 333 votes; Ron Paul, 276 votes; Newt Gingrich, 190 votes; Charles “Buddy” Roemer, 42 votes.

U.S. Senator Democrats - Joe Manchin, III, 2,494 votes; Sheril Fletcher, 452 votes. GOP - John R. Raese, 2,012 votes.

U.S. House of Representatives 3rd District Democrats - Nick J. Rahall, II, 2,552 votes. GOP - Lee A. Bias, 1,313 votes, Rick Snuffer, 607 votes, Bill Lester, 215 votes.

Governor Democrats - Earl Ray Tomblin, 2,552 votes; Arne Moltis, 375 votes. GOP - Bill Maloney, 1,935 votes, Ralph William Clark, 399 votes.

Secretary of State Democrats - Natalie E. Tennant, 2,636 votes. GOP - Brian Savilla, 2,143 votes.

Auditor Democrats - Glen B. Gainer, III, 2,387 votes. GOP - Larry V. Faircloth, 1,836 votes.

Treasurer GOP - Mike Hall, 1,833 votes, Stephen R. Connolly, 497 votes. Democrats - John D. Perdue, 2,390 votes.

Commissioner of Ag Democrats - Joe Messineo, 789 votes, Steve Miller, 631 votes, Sally Shepherd, 599 votes, Walt Helmick, 584 votes, Bob Tabb, 113 votes.

Attorney General Democrats - Darrell V. McGraw, Jr., 2,660 votes. GOP - Patrick Morrisey, 1,893 votes.

State Senator 4th District, GOP - Mitch B. Carmichael, 2,029 votes; Democrats - Marla Dee Ingels, 1,489 votes, Michael “Mike” Bright, 1,290 votes.

Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals GOP - Allen Loughry 1,327 votes, John Yoder, 1,277 votes; Democrats - Letitia Tish Chafin, 1,426, Robin Jean Davis, 1,185, James J. “Jim” Rowe, 915, J.D. Beane, 508, H. John Buck Rogers, 266, Louis Palmer, 226.

Prosecuting Attorney GOP - Craig Tatterson, 2,249 votes; Democrats - Bryan S. Cromley, 2,395 votes.

Magistrate GOP - Gail L. Roush, 2,146 votes; Democrats - Cheryl Miller Ross, 2,638 votes.

Surveyor Democrats - John M. Persinger, 2,679 votes.

Assessor Democrats - Ron Hickman, 2,748 votes.