Scott beats England in clerk race
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?I?m relieved but there?s no time to rest because we?re going for training tomorrow so we?re hitting the ground running,? Scott said Thursday night. ?There are a lot of people to thank, family and friends, who got out and worked hard to make this possible.?
Scott?s longtime boss, David Smartt, who offered his endorsement to the independent candidate, said he was grateful voters gave his colleague a chance to serve them.
?I think she will be wonderful for Warren County,? Smartt said. ?I thank them for giving her a chance to do the job.?
While the race was the closest of the night, Scott ended up winning by a wider margin than projected, carrying most of the county?s 21 precincts, winning by a count of 4,207 to 3,402.
Both candidates were determined during the stretch run as they and their supporters braved the summer heat outside early voting and then stood waving signs during the hottest days of the year this week to win the final votes.
While it was the first entry into politics by Scott, who had worked in Smartt?s office for 15 years, she spared no expense, outspending her opponent 3-to-1 by a margin of $24,851 to $8,032, most of the spending coming in the just over two months since the May primary.
For England, politics was old hat as he had sought the Register of Deeds office in 1998 and 2002, losing both times to Terry Smith, before winning his first battle, that being the Democratic Primary this May when he won impressively over a six-candidate field. However, the support that brought his Democratic win in May did not continue heavily Thursday.
?I think I did everything I could do,? said a disappointed England. ?Lesa is a good lady and I think she?ll do a good job.?
England, who did win a term in the county commission at the beginning of his political career, said he does not know if this will be his final entry into politics.
While Scott and England turned the race into a two-candidate show, four other challengers were actively campaigning including the Republican Mike Neal, who finished with 724 votes, making his run the most successful ever for a Republican in a local race.
Local businessman Sammy Walker, who heavily campaigned during early voting, was able to bring home 683 votes. Scotty Nelson pulled in 312 votes and Michael Bell 425 votes.
Even in the loss, Bell said he was happy he did well in his home district and, like other candidates before, that he got his name before the people.
?Getting my name out there was important,? Bell said. ?And, it?s important to take care of your home first, and we did well in our home area, so that?s a start perhaps for the future.?
Scott will take office Sept. 1, becoming the first person other than Smartt to head the office in more than two decades.