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With primary over, races heat up for general election
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
With the primary election out of the way, several races in Cochise County will be heating up as candidates for sheriff and seats on the board of supervisors have been narrowed.
The sheriff's race was already heated in the primary election, as Republican incumbent Larry Dever faced Bill Cloud. Dever came out on top, getting 5,102 of the Republican votes, while Cloud had 2,247.
Dever said Cloud ran a good campaign and he is thankful to his supporters for giving him the opportunity to move on the general election.
Dever will now face Democratic opponent Norm Bradley in the Nov. 4 general election. Bradley ran unopposed in the primary election, receiving 4,669 votes.
Dever said he knows he faces a tough battle in the next few months against Bradley, who has said the county needs change. He has 30 years of law enforcement experience to bring to the table.
"We'll keep serving the people just like we always have," Dever said. "We are going to face Mr. Bradley just like we did a few years ago and we beat him then."
Bradley said keeping things in the sheriff's department the same as they have been is not in the county's best interest and it is time for change.
"I am running in this election to return integrity to the office," he said. "We need to modernize training for deputies and work on rebuilding the department's relationships with other agencies, other first responders."
Dever said Bradley has made a lot of comments regarding the need for more expanded coverage throughout the county.
"I want that just as much as he does, but it's all about funding and where we can find the funding," Dever said.
Dever said one of the major issues facing Cochise County continues to be illegal immigration, although he noted numbers are down as the U.S. Border Patrol is doing a good job in the area.
The drug problems are also a continued concern for Dever, who is seeking his second term in office.
Bradley agreed that drugs are a major problem, noting that the use of methamphetamines are a major issue and until law enforcement gets more aggressive in detaining smugglers coming across the border, the problems are going to continue to increase.
Bradley said he realizes he is running against a two-term incumbent, but is confident he can win in the upcoming election.
The second-time candidate said Dever does not have a good record as sheriff and he will be exposing the problems the department has before the Nov. 4 election.
The general election battle for the District 3 seat for the Cochise County Board of supervisors is also set, as Republican incumbent Richard Searle defeated two candidates to move on to face Democratic opponent Sharon Thomas on Nov. 4.
Searle received 1,031 votes, while opponents Pamela Harlan received 673 and Bob Everett finished with 456.
Thomas, who ran unopposed in the primary, received 1,144 votes.
Searle said after running against two opponents in the primary election, it takes a little time to refocus on the general election, but he is ready to get out and discuss the issues facing District 3, which includes all the San Pedro Valley.
"First, I do want to say thank you to all my supporters in the primary election," Searle said. "With three people running, it really did split the ticket. I know in the general election a lot of issues will come out, but most of all I think my experience puts me ahead of my opponent. The experience I've picked up over the last four years is going to be very valuable over the next four years to make sure District 3 isn't lost with all the Sierra Vista issues."
Searle said he is also confident that his financial background sets him apart from Thomas as the county budget is only going to get tighter over the next few years.
While Thomas could not be reached directly for comment, in a phone message, the first-time candidate said she is looking forward to the upcoming election and serving the constituents of Cochise County.
"We had a very good showing in the primary, and I look forward to doing just as well in the general," she said.
In the county election last week, a total of 14,139 ballots were cast out of the 67,383 eligible to vote.
Besides the county election, the City of Benson also had a special recall election where sitting council members Kathy Suagee and Dianne Tipton were voted out of office.
City Clerk Vicki Vivian said the two council members will remain seated until the City Council makes the vote count official.
Vivian said the county will canvass the votes on Sept. 11, after that the council can either hold a special meeting to canvass the votes and swear in new members David Lambert and Jo Deen Boncquet, or the council can wait until the regular meeting on Sept. 22.
A special meeting can either be called by a quorum of the council or by Mayor Mark Fenn.
Suagee has threatened to challenge the election, stating she felt the results were invalid because election workers did not ask for addresses as residents voted on Sept. 2.
Cochise County Election Director Tom Schelling said it is within her rights to challenge the election, but she does have a time limit.
Once the votes are canvassed, Suagee has five days to challenge the results in superior court.
With the primary election out of the way, several races in Cochise County will be heating up as candidates for sheriff and seats on the board of supervisors have been narrowed.
The sheriff's race was already heated in the primary election, as Republican incumbent Larry Dever faced Bill Cloud. Dever came out on top, getting 5,102 of the Republican votes, while Cloud had 2,247.
Dever said Cloud ran a good campaign and he is thankful to his supporters for giving him the opportunity to move on the general election.
Dever will now face Democratic opponent Norm Bradley in the Nov. 4 general election. Bradley ran unopposed in the primary election, receiving 4,669 votes.
Dever said he knows he faces a tough battle in the next few months against Bradley, who has said the county needs change. He has 30 years of law enforcement experience to bring to the table.
"We'll keep serving the people just like we always have," Dever said. "We are going to face Mr. Bradley just like we did a few years ago and we beat him then."
Bradley said keeping things in the sheriff's department the same as they have been is not in the county's best interest and it is time for change.
"I am running in this election to return integrity to the office," he said. "We need to modernize training for deputies and work on rebuilding the department's relationships with other agencies, other first responders."
Dever said Bradley has made a lot of comments regarding the need for more expanded coverage throughout the county.
"I want that just as much as he does, but it's all about funding and where we can find the funding," Dever said.
Dever said one of the major issues facing Cochise County continues to be illegal immigration, although he noted numbers are down as the U.S. Border Patrol is doing a good job in the area.
The drug problems are also a continued concern for Dever, who is seeking his second term in office.
Bradley agreed that drugs are a major problem, noting that the use of methamphetamines are a major issue and until law enforcement gets more aggressive in detaining smugglers coming across the border, the problems are going to continue to increase.
Bradley said he realizes he is running against a two-term incumbent, but is confident he can win in the upcoming election.
The second-time candidate said Dever does not have a good record as sheriff and he will be exposing the problems the department has before the Nov. 4 election.
The general election battle for the District 3 seat for the Cochise County Board of supervisors is also set, as Republican incumbent Richard Searle defeated two candidates to move on to face Democratic opponent Sharon Thomas on Nov. 4.
Searle received 1,031 votes, while opponents Pamela Harlan received 673 and Bob Everett finished with 456.
Thomas, who ran unopposed in the primary, received 1,144 votes.
Searle said after running against two opponents in the primary election, it takes a little time to refocus on the general election, but he is ready to get out and discuss the issues facing District 3, which includes all the San Pedro Valley.
"First, I do want to say thank you to all my supporters in the primary election," Searle said. "With three people running, it really did split the ticket. I know in the general election a lot of issues will come out, but most of all I think my experience puts me ahead of my opponent. The experience I've picked up over the last four years is going to be very valuable over the next four years to make sure District 3 isn't lost with all the Sierra Vista issues."
Searle said he is also confident that his financial background sets him apart from Thomas as the county budget is only going to get tighter over the next few years.
While Thomas could not be reached directly for comment, in a phone message, the first-time candidate said she is looking forward to the upcoming election and serving the constituents of Cochise County.
"We had a very good showing in the primary, and I look forward to doing just as well in the general," she said.
In the county election last week, a total of 14,139 ballots were cast out of the 67,383 eligible to vote.
Besides the county election, the City of Benson also had a special recall election where sitting council members Kathy Suagee and Dianne Tipton were voted out of office.
City Clerk Vicki Vivian said the two council members will remain seated until the City Council makes the vote count official.
Vivian said the county will canvass the votes on Sept. 11, after that the council can either hold a special meeting to canvass the votes and swear in new members David Lambert and Jo Deen Boncquet, or the council can wait until the regular meeting on Sept. 22.
A special meeting can either be called by a quorum of the council or by Mayor Mark Fenn.
Suagee has threatened to challenge the election, stating she felt the results were invalid because election workers did not ask for addresses as residents voted on Sept. 2.
Cochise County Election Director Tom Schelling said it is within her rights to challenge the election, but she does have a time limit.
Once the votes are canvassed, Suagee has five days to challenge the results in superior court.
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