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Banner Adpublished: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 
Unofficial winners named in primary elections By SAMANTHA GHOLAR
SEBRING -- Voters showed up throughout Highlands County as the primary elections started out early Tuesday morning. Campaigns for local and state positions including Highlands County Schools superintendent, school board members, county commission seats, and various other positions. Polls closed promptly at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening; by 7:15 the Supervisor of Elections Office was filled with supporters awaiting results. Early voting and absentee results were available just after 7 p.m. Those results showed a total of 4,218 votes cast. Early voting usually gives the best clue as to the official results according to numerous campaigners and office personnel. The unofficial results include 24 of the 25 precinct; precinct 17 was not included in the unofficial results. "This is everything but precinct 17. It's a big precinct, it's the Lake Placid American Legion Post," said Supervisor of Elections Joe Campbell. "They were unable to electronically send the results in due to bad storms in the area." The unofficial results (with the exception of precinct 17) show a total of 10,472 voters. The unofficial primary election winners are as follows: -Tom Rooney; Representative Congress District 17; total of 5,971 votes (79.64%) -Cary Pigman; State Representative District 55; total of 4,356 votes (57.19%) -Wally Cox; Superintendent of Schools; total of 4,308 votes (57.05%) -Jan Shoop; School Board District 3; total of 6,428 votes (64.72%) -Penny Ogg; Supervisor of Elections; total of 3,459 votes (42.52%) -Jim Brooks; County Commissioner District 1; total of 3,907 votes (54.48%) -Ron Handley; County Commissioner District 3; total of 4,239 votes (58%) -Christine Trakas Thornhill; Circuit Judge Group 7; total of 4,529 votes (49.66%) -Catherine Combee; Circuit Judge Group 27; total of 4,920 votes (54.55%) -Bill Nelson; United States Senator; total of 1,600 votes (70.24%) -Connie Mack; United States Senator; total of 3,667 votes (50.99%) Several campaigners were present Tuesday evening awaiting results alongside supporters and friends. "I'm glad it's over," said Brooks as he shook hands with opponents and friends just outside the elections office. "I'm ready for the work for the next phase of it." Sebring City Council member and Brooks supporter Andrew Fells stated how much work Brooks has done in his campaign. "He put a lot of work into it. He did a good job," Fells said. Campbell and the rest of the elections personnel will reveal the remaining precinct and official results as they come in to the office.
 Answer this.... (by: Timothy - 8/18/2012) How does a county vote in a women (Shoop) for school board with no educational experience whatsoever and is going to take the 30,000 salary over a women who has 40 plus years in education at multiple levels including college and was going to do the job for FREE...yes take her salary and put it all back in to the highlands county education system. Answer is simple...she is part of the "local network". So, don't complain about lack of pay....lack of jobs...lack of experienced people in positions when people like Jan Shoop are voted in to a school board position. I am sure she is a wonderful lady, but proof is in your resume...in this case its about yet again..."who you know" An observer (by: Hmmmm - 8/17/2012) What are you talking about? Monster???? Necessary?! (by: The Bottom Line - 8/16/2012) @Shoofly- Have you taken the time to sit down with Penny Ogg, or any of the Ogg's and discuss their "religion" or are you just basing this on image? Bottom line, an elected office needs to be based on the candidate with the most KNOWLEDGE and EXPERIENCE for the job; not on image, race, gender, etc! I believe Highlands County got it right! Congrats Penny Ogg!!! BROOKS (by: An Observer - 8/16/2012) Why wouldn't Jim Brooks do well in work and life? Look at the $ backing him since he married "into it all!" Talk about "BACKING".................NOT a "monster-in- in his life. Shunning religion? (by: shoofly - 8/16/2012) Doesn't Ogg's religion strictly prohibit active participation in political matters? School Board Superintendent (by: Ron Brogan - 8/15/2012) Mr. Cox, if you are re-elected to your position again, I sure hope you will do something with all the waste in the Transportation Dept. - There are so called Mechianics that do nothing but inspect varies parts of the bus's (do they even repair the defect or do they write up a work order & somebody elese repair it), I'm refering to the Avon Park bus Yard!! What does the employee do other then sit in the small office building & write up workorder & do inspections, if that is all that this employee does, why can't this job be consalidated to the Sebring yard - I say it's time to CUT THE FAT - Taxpayers are getting tired of paying for jobs that are duplicated and not needed - What a waste of Taxpayers Money$$$ The Right Stuff (by: One Happy Voter - 8/15/2012) Congratulations to Penny Ogg!! She has what it takes to run a non-partisan office with professionalism and a big smile. Remember - Experience Counts!! District 55 vote very close (by: Ray Royce - 8/14/2012) Across the entire District 55 (includes Highlands, Glades, Okeechobee and a small portion of St. Lucie Counties), Dr. Pigman only won (or perhaps leads at this time with only provisional ballots still to be counted) over Randy Johnson by 26 votes (0.22%) out of nearly 12,000 votes, so don't ever think your vote does not count!  Small Banner Ads |
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