News
Giffords, Searle and Dever big winners
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Cochise County voters opted to keep most officials in place during the Nov. 4 general election.
Although Democrat Barack Obama won the race for president, Republican John McCain. won in Cochise County.
McCain was preferred over Obama 25,005 to 15,752.
Also at the national level, Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was reelected to the House of Representatives for District 8. Giffords defeated Republican Tim Bee 148,538 to 116,355.
Bee beat Giffords in Cochise County by a slim margin of 20,169 to 19,669.
In a concession statement, Bee congratulated Giffords.
"Congresswoman Giffords ran a strong campaign and we wish her well in representing us in Congress," Bee said. "Grace and I have been overwhelmed by the support we received throughout this endeavor. I'm proud of our campaign and our supporters. We fought a fight worth fighting. All of your efforts on our behalf are truly humbling."
Giffords did not return the News-Sun call for comment.
At the county level, Richard Searle was reelected to his second four-year term on the Cochise County Board of Supervisors, District 3. Searle, a Republican, deafeated Democrat Sharon Thomas 6,834 to 4,681.
Searle said he considers elections a job review for the incumbent. His being reelected is a good sign.
"You get reviewed every four years or two years, depending on your term in office," Searle said. "This gives me some notice of how I am doing and what voters want. It is also humbling. I am appreciative to my supporters, and am definitely ready to move forward into the next four years. With the budget, we do have some challenges ahead."
Searle said he was also pleased with the results of the District 1 and 2 races for the board of supervisors. Pat Call was reelected to serve the Sierra Vista area and newcomer Ann English, a Democrat, was elected for District 2. English defeated Harvey Allen for the job.
English will replace Paul Newman, who did not seek reelection.
Searle said Newman and Call have always been more urban representatives, and he feels that between him and English there will be more of a voice for rural residents over the next four years.
Another big county race ended with the incumbent being reelected. Republican Sheriff Larry Dever decisively won a fourth term in office, defeating Democrat Norm Bradley 23,935 to 16,093.
Dever faced an uphill battle in the recent election with an opponent in the primary election and then a tough campaign against Bradley for the general election. In the primary, Dever had to defeat Bill Cloud on the Republican ticket.
"I'm glad to say it's over," Dever said. "It's a campaign that started over a year ago. The general election was grueling, but I am glad I will be able to keep serving the people. We do have some tough challenges ahead with the budget, and I will be glad to do what I can."
Dever said he was happy to see that he beat Bradley by an even larger margin than in the 2002 election. Bradley had run against Dever once before.
Residents will see no changes in several other Cochise County offices. County Attorney Ed Rheinheimer will keep his job, since he ran unopposed. Treasurer Marsha Bonham was reelected along with county Superintendent of Schools Trudi Berry, Recorder Christine Rhodes and Assessor Philip Leiendecker.
Cochise County and San Pedro Valley residents will have plenty of new representation in Phoenix.
While Democrat Manny Alvarez will remain in the Arizona Legislature, it will be in a different position starting in January. Alvarez, who has served on the Arizona House of Representatives, was elected to the Senate, defeating Republican Mary Ann Black 29,344 to 26,019.
In the House of Representatives, two new faces were elected. Democrat Patricia Fleming led the four candidates seeking the two seats with 27,871. Republican David Stevens won the second seat with 24,542. The two defeated Democrat Richard Boyer and Republican Timathy Davies.
Cochise County voters opted to keep most officials in place during the Nov. 4 general election.
Although Democrat Barack Obama won the race for president, Republican John McCain. won in Cochise County.
McCain was preferred over Obama 25,005 to 15,752.
Also at the national level, Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was reelected to the House of Representatives for District 8. Giffords defeated Republican Tim Bee 148,538 to 116,355.
Bee beat Giffords in Cochise County by a slim margin of 20,169 to 19,669.
In a concession statement, Bee congratulated Giffords.
"Congresswoman Giffords ran a strong campaign and we wish her well in representing us in Congress," Bee said. "Grace and I have been overwhelmed by the support we received throughout this endeavor. I'm proud of our campaign and our supporters. We fought a fight worth fighting. All of your efforts on our behalf are truly humbling."
Giffords did not return the News-Sun call for comment.
At the county level, Richard Searle was reelected to his second four-year term on the Cochise County Board of Supervisors, District 3. Searle, a Republican, deafeated Democrat Sharon Thomas 6,834 to 4,681.
Searle said he considers elections a job review for the incumbent. His being reelected is a good sign.
"You get reviewed every four years or two years, depending on your term in office," Searle said. "This gives me some notice of how I am doing and what voters want. It is also humbling. I am appreciative to my supporters, and am definitely ready to move forward into the next four years. With the budget, we do have some challenges ahead."
Searle said he was also pleased with the results of the District 1 and 2 races for the board of supervisors. Pat Call was reelected to serve the Sierra Vista area and newcomer Ann English, a Democrat, was elected for District 2. English defeated Harvey Allen for the job.
English will replace Paul Newman, who did not seek reelection.
Searle said Newman and Call have always been more urban representatives, and he feels that between him and English there will be more of a voice for rural residents over the next four years.
Another big county race ended with the incumbent being reelected. Republican Sheriff Larry Dever decisively won a fourth term in office, defeating Democrat Norm Bradley 23,935 to 16,093.
Dever faced an uphill battle in the recent election with an opponent in the primary election and then a tough campaign against Bradley for the general election. In the primary, Dever had to defeat Bill Cloud on the Republican ticket.
"I'm glad to say it's over," Dever said. "It's a campaign that started over a year ago. The general election was grueling, but I am glad I will be able to keep serving the people. We do have some tough challenges ahead with the budget, and I will be glad to do what I can."
Dever said he was happy to see that he beat Bradley by an even larger margin than in the 2002 election. Bradley had run against Dever once before.
Residents will see no changes in several other Cochise County offices. County Attorney Ed Rheinheimer will keep his job, since he ran unopposed. Treasurer Marsha Bonham was reelected along with county Superintendent of Schools Trudi Berry, Recorder Christine Rhodes and Assessor Philip Leiendecker.
Cochise County and San Pedro Valley residents will have plenty of new representation in Phoenix.
While Democrat Manny Alvarez will remain in the Arizona Legislature, it will be in a different position starting in January. Alvarez, who has served on the Arizona House of Representatives, was elected to the Senate, defeating Republican Mary Ann Black 29,344 to 26,019.
In the House of Representatives, two new faces were elected. Democrat Patricia Fleming led the four candidates seeking the two seats with 27,871. Republican David Stevens won the second seat with 24,542. The two defeated Democrat Richard Boyer and Republican Timathy Davies.
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