England, Bryant advance
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Randy England claimed the Democratic nomination for the office of county court clerk while Darlene Reagan Bryant will advance as the Democratic nominee for the office of trustee. Their reward, however, is to move on to contested elections in August, Reagan facing one foe while England will face a field of six fresh faces.
England, who is seeking to take the place of retiring longtime clerk David Smartt, earned his spot in August by besting closest rival Brent Brock.
?I think I?ll take a little time to rest and then make a push to the finish,? England said thanking his family and supporters. ?The campaign was clean and that was a real plus because I think we are all still friends. I want to thank my opponents for running such great campaigns.?
England?s prior tastes of politics included losses against Terry Smith in two separate races in 1998 and 2002, for the office of register of deeds. England placed a close third in 1998 but a distant second in 2002 in the register?s race.
Bryant, in earning the nomination with 2,792 votes, or 32 percent, beat current trustee employee Anita Nunley, who had 2,267 votes, or 26 percent, and former trustee employee Donna Pelham, with 2,197 votes, or 25 percent. Veteran 11th District County Commissioner David Vandagriff finished with 1,190 votes or 13 percent. Mia-Lan Powers, who backed out of the campaign, received 379 votes.
Bryant?s former tastes of politics included a distant third-place finish to Terry Smith for register of deeds in the general election of 1998 and a narrow 300-vote loss to incumbent Joy Slatton in the 2002 trustee?s race.
In the only County Commission race decided by the Democratic Primary, the 7th District, M.A. Bouldin was the top vote-getter with 349 votes. Incumbent David K. Grissom placed second with 317 votes. They are elected with no opposition in August.
The other three hopefuls who fell short were Tammie Gribble with 233 votes, former incumbent Herb Wright with 213 votes, and Miles Snider with 69 votes.
The only other contested race was for the Democratic nomination in the 8th District where Danice Taylor won with 447 votes, and Pee Wee Hill placed second with 406 votes. Incumbent David G. Hill fell short of the nomination with 337 votes. The winners in the 8th District face opposition in August.