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As expected, Republicans swept the majority of the races in Kosciusko County Tuesday, even the controversial Wayne Township Trustee seat.
Democrats were left wondering if voters paid any attention to candidates at all or if they were simply voting for a party.
"I hate to admit it," said Democrat Party Chairman Steve Haines, "but (Times-Union Managing Editor) Gary Gerard was right when he said even Osama bin Laden could get elected as a Republican in this county. I think it's a travesty Pam Cartwright could get beat. The people who helped see that happen owe Wayne Township an apology."
Republican Daniel B. Slone Sr. won 3,304, or 56.58 percent, of the votes in the Wayne Township Trustee race, to claim victory over Democrat Pam Cartwright, who took in 2,536 votes, or 43.42 percent. A couple of years ago, Slone ran as a Democrat for a county council seat, losing to Republican Maurice Beer. Current Wayne Township Trustee Beaulah Fleagle, a Republican, endorsed Cartwright, as did several other members of the Republican Party because they perceived Slone to lack qualifications necessary to run the office.
Of the 44,489 registered voters in Kosciusko County, only 17,455 cast votes (39 percent), down from 43 percent four years ago. Of those who voted, 5,020 voted straight Republican Party (29 percent) while 1,171 voted straight Democratic Party (7 percent).
Republican Party Chairman Mike Gavin said of the overall election results, "Obviously, I'm very, very pleased." Republicans in Kosciusko County won across the board, as is also true at the state level.
Responding to rumors that Slone might not be allowed to take office or will somehow be unseated once he's in, Gavin said, "I'm not sure how that would happen. We'll give Slone all the help he needs. ... He won pretty convincingly. We feel pretty good about that."
Haines said the Democrats may have had only a few candidates this general election, but the candidates they did have were good.
"I don't know what it will take to get people to look at the candidates other than a symbol," he said.
Younger people need to get involved with local politics, Haines suggested when asked how Democrats can do better in future elections, and the public needs to be educated about the candidates and then use that education when they go to the polls to vote.
Haines also remarked on Democrat Jay Rigdon, of North Webster, losing his bid for U.S. Representative for the Third District.
"It's embarrassing Jay Rigdon didn't do better," Haines said, especially in his home county. Rigdon received 4,818 votes, or 27.9 percent, to Mark Souder's 12,071 votes, or 69.9 percent of the votes, in Kosciusko County. Libertarian Mike Donlan receive 2.21 percent of the votes, or 381 votes in Kosciusko County.
Gavin said he was very pleased Souder was elected to serve another term. Republicans winning, he said, was due to Republicans getting out the vote and in return, Republicans picked up offices they didn't have before.
On the bright side for the Democrats, Trillia Gearhart won in Franklin Township Trustee by 10 votes over Republican Randy Vanlaningham and Syracuse Town Councilman Paul Stoelting, Democrat, will retain his seat with a 53-to-47 percent victory over Republican Peter Barrett.
