published: Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Alexander, Grimsley return to office

Rooney replaces Mahoney in Congressional seat

News-Sun staff

About 64 percent of the votes cast in Tuesday's county election were actually cast early or as absentee votes. Of the 66,092 registered voters, 44,844 total ballots were cast, 28,631 as early votes and absentee votes.

In total, 68 percent of the total registered voters in Highlands County had their voices heard at one point or another in Tuesday's election, according to the Highlands County Supervisor of Elections office.

Highlands County voters favored John McCain as their choice for president, but it was Barack Obama who was declared the 44th President of the United States at about 11 p.m. Tuesday.

With all but the one touch screen accounted for in Highlands County, McCain led 25,903 to Obama's 17,913.

As for the state races, Highlands County was more than willing to send Denise Grimsley back to the State Representative, District 77 seat. She led Highlands County with 25,481 to Elton J. "Dr. G." Gissendanner's 11,878 votes.

In the State Senator, District 17 race, J.D. Alexander returns to his seat, leading over Scott Thompson, 25,677 to 16,212 in Highlands County.

Alexander was overwhelmingly re-elected to Senate District 17, which includes Highlands and Hardee counties, as well as parts of DeSoto, Glades, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, and Polk counties. According to the Election Night Web site for the Florida Department of State, Alexander had 103,010, or 59 percent to Thompson's 71,121, or 41 percent.

"I thank the voters of District 17 and Florida's Heartland for their support and for their confidence in me," Alexander said. "Tonight's victory confirms my belief that our district is on the right path and that despite economic uncertainty, the voters are optimistic about the future. I am proud of our district and its accomplishments and am excited to return to Tallahassee to continue to flight for our needs and our communities."

Alexander was first elected to the Florida Senate in 2002 and has been subsequently re-elected. Prior to being elected to the Florida Senate, Alexander served four years in the Florida House of Representatives.

Tim Mahoney finds himself voted off the Representative in Congress, District 16 seat this morning. His 15,679 votes put him behind Tom Rooney's 26,827 in Highlands County. The rest of the district - which includes part or all of Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties - followed suit.

Democrats targeted more U.S. House seats in Florida than in any other state -- but lost the one Mahoney picked up in the wake of former Republican Rep. Mark Foley's page scandal two years go. Mahoney admitted a month before the election to at least two affairs.