Voters OK Nevada city street tax, state parks tax renewals

Wednesday, August 9, 2006

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

Voters passed both sales tax questions on the ballot in Tuesday's primary election; one a 1/10th-cent statewide sales tax that funds state parks and soil and water conservation; and one for street maintenance in the city of Nevada.

Neither issue increased taxes. Both were already on the books, but the votes did continue both at the present levels.

The state conservation tax, presented as Amendment 1, passed by 1,905 to 977 locally and by 482,855 to 199,409 statewide and will remain until 2016, when it will automatically appear on the ballot again. In the case of the city's street tax, which passed 933 to 252.

This tax will continue until 2011, when local officials will have to place a renewal question on the ballot if the tax is still desired at that time.

In the election, a total 3,138 ballots were cast -- 23 percent of the 13,199 registered voters in Vernon County.

In the only local race, other than the Vernon County prosecutor's race, which generated much controversy before the election, Bonnie McCord won easily over Phil Boyle in the Democratic race for Presiding Commissioner, 1,712 to 733.

One controversy in the race was the contention in an ad by Boyle that said he loaned the Sheriff of Vernon County money to "accomplish their duties." McCord and Vernon County Sheriff Ron Peckman both denied that the Sheriff's department had received money from Boyle, rather that the multi-county major case squad drug task force with which the county sheriff's office is affiliated, received the loan -- which was paid back without having been used.

Across the state, the field of candidates was narrowed to one in each party. Results of contested races follow, .

Democratic races (Vernon County)

Associate Circuit Judge, Neal Quitno; 2,131; Presiding Commissioner of Vernon County, Bonnie McCord, 1,712 to Phil Boyle, 733; Clerk of the Circuit Court Vickie Erwin, 2,190; Clerk of the County Commission, Tammy Beach, 2,212; Prosecuting Attorney, Jeff Feuquay, 1,251 to Lynn Ewing III, 1,250.

Republican races(Vernon County)

Associate Circuit Judge, Gerald D. McBeth, 476; Vernon County Presiding Commissioner, Arch Forkner, 492; Recorder of Deeds, Doug Shupe, 434.

Statewide results: Democrat

United States Senator, Claire McCaskill 281,785 to Bill Clinton Young 67,015; State Auditor, Susan Montee 218,241 to Darrell Wattenbarger 91,591; U.S. Representative District 4, Ike Skelton 36,820; State Representative, 125th district, Tim Wells 3,718;

Statewide results: Republican

United States Senator, Isaiah Hair, Jr., 6,575, Jim Talent, 289,173, Joyce P. Lea, 11,718, Roxie L. Fausnaught, 4,936, Scott Babbitt, 13,229; State Auditor, Jack Jackson, 84,812, Mark Wright, 38,201, Al Hanson, 14,260, Sandra Thomas, 86,611, John W. Loudon, 73,735; U.S. Representative, District 4, Lloyd D. Sanders, Sr., 4,601, Alan Conner, 12,094, Jeff Parnell, 5,784, James A. Noland, 22,222; State Representative, Barney Fisher, 1,491; Circuit Judge, Circuit 28, James R. Bickel, 5,306;

Libertarian races:

United States Senator, Frank Gilmore, 1,635; State Auditor, Charles W. Baum, 1,604; U.S. Representative District 4 Bryce A. Holthouse, 170.

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