Sherrill Poll results are in

The district attorney?s race is a dead heat while a political newcomer appears on the verge of unseating the incumbent county executive, all according to the Sherrill Poll completed Monday after four separate days of exit polling.

The poll was the fourth pre-election poll commissioned by the Southern Standard in the past six years and is the second exit poll undertaken in that time. The poll, which sampled 170 early voters during the first two weeks of early voting, contained the Democratic Primary races for county executive, sheriff, county court clerk, trustee and district attorney. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent, meaning there could be as much as an 8 percent margin of error between any two candidates based upon the assumption 10,000 people will vote during this primary.

The closest race is that of district attorney where Lisa Zavogiannis and Robert Newman finished the polling in a literal tie, both holding 40 percent of the vote. Fellow candidate Phillip Clemons trailed with 20 percent.

While the vote was tied, it should be noted a random poll four years ago showed former county executive Carol Hamblen and Kenneth Rogers in a near tie, yet Rogers ended up winning the election by a comfortable margin.

The other races in that election were accurately predicted by the poll, with most ending with very similar percentages to that of the poll.

The aforementioned county executive?s poll four years ago was a random poll. The most recent exit poll prior to the one taken this election, was for the office of circuit court judge four years ago. The judge?s poll ended up correctly foretelling the winner, Judge Bart Stanley, and those placing behind him, along with hitting near the percentages of votes each candidate received.

In the case of district attorney, it should be noted Van Buren County, which is not part of the Sherrill Poll, will also have a say in who is nominated to take on incumbent District Attorney Dale Potter in the general election Aug. 3. In the case of this poll, Newman won three of the four sample days by close margins while Zavogiannis won one day by a comfortable margin. Clemons? best showing was a second-place tie with Zavogiannis on one day.

In the race for county executive, newcomer John Pelham led all four sample days to take 57 percent of the poll vote to that of incumbent County Executive Kenneth Rogers who got 42 percent. A third candidate, Hackett Lance, drew two votes, giving him less than 1 percent.

The Sherrill Poll also showed a sizable lead for Sheriff Jackie Matheny, seeking his fourth term of office against former sheriff Kenny Taylor. Matheny led 64 percent to 36 percent, winning all four exit sample days.

In the most populous race, that of county court clerk, Randy England and Brent Brock emerged frontrunners with England garnering 33 percent to Brock?s 25 percent. Deputy Larry Terry was running third with 13 percent, just ahead of Chuck Mayfield who had 11 percent and Diane Ellege Starkey who had 9 percent. Rickey Elkins and Jackie D. Pelham rounded out the field with 5 percent apiece.

In the race for trustee, Darlene Bryant, who fell just short of unseating incumbent Joy Slatton four years ago, held a slight lead over trustee employee Anita Nunley by a count of 35 percent to 27 percent. Donna Pelham was in third with 20 percent, just ahead of 11th District County Commissioner David Vandagriff with 18 percent.

In an addition to the Sherrill Poll, not contained on the actual ballot but contained on the poll, voters overwhelmingly said they want the county commission to cut itself in half from 24 to 12 members. The poll showed 71 percent in favor of cutting the commission?s size, opposed to 29 percent who wanted the size to stay the same.

The Sherrill Poll

Sheriff
Jackie Matheny 64%
Kenny Taylor 36%
County Executive
John Pelham 57%
Kenneth Rogers 42%
Hacket Lance .5%
District Attorney
Robert Newman 40%
Lisa Zavogiannis 40%
Phillip Clemons 20%
Trustee
Darlene Bryant 35%
Anita Nunley 27%
Donna Pelham 20%
David Vandagriff 18%
County Clerk
Randy England 33%
Brent Brock 25%
Larry Terry 13%
Chuck Mayfield 11%
Diane Starkey 9%
Rickey Elkins 5%
Jackie Pelham 5%
County Court
Cut commission 71%
Keep it at 24 29%