Street tax fails in big voter turnout

Interest ran high in yesterday’s primary election with much of the focus on six Democrats and two Republicans all wanting to be the next sheriff of Daviess County.

Early election results forecast the eventual final counts. Deputy Robert Smith secured the Democrat nomination by more than 70 votes over runnerup Don Masters Jr. with former Gallatin policeman Darren Price finishing third. Smith took six of the 11 voter precincts but led Masters by only 30 votes in the county’s largest precinct, Union Township, which includes Gallatin. Doug Hamilton also showed well in Union Township with 122 votes and Price tallied 118 votes.

On the Republican side Kevin Heldenbrand defeated Bill Sites by nearly 350 votes.

The closest race in Daviess County’s primary election involved Tom Houghton and Joe Evans for County Commissioner District 2. Houghton, who is retiring as Daviess County Sheriff, edged Evans 384-350 to get the Democrat nomination. Ten votes in that winning margin came from absentee ballots; Evans held winning margins in votes cast at Winston and Wesley Chapel. Union Township supported Houghton, 316-270.

Houghton will now face incumbent Republican Danny Heldenbrand in the upcoming General Election in November.

The only proposal on ballots cast by citizens of Gallatin failed to secure the necessary two-thirds majority. A $1.40 property tax increase for a 10-year period to finance major street improvements was soundly defeated with 462 casting no votes against 207 yes votes.

Daviess County endorsed the nominees for Circuit Judge 43 Division 1, picking those who now will face off in November. Brent Elliott carried Daviess County by nearly 450 votes over Tim Bosler on the Democrat ballot; Warren McElwain defeated James Valbracht by a 175-vote margin for the Republican nomination.

Lisa Vanderslice defeated Bob Rogers as Democrat for Assessor. Vanderslice won by 242 votes with Rogers claiming one precinct. Vanderslice will now face Republican Betty Harmison in the General Election.

Although the choices were many, the results of ballots cast for 6th District Congressman were as expected. Steve Danner, son of retiring Congresswoman Pat Danner, easily carried Daviess County over three other candidates. State Sen. Sam Graves easily carried the county for the Republican nomination. Danner will face Graves in the General Election in November.

One other local race involved two Democrats for Public Administrator. Teresa Eaton won eight precincts but Vicki Corwin defeated Eaton by 55 votes from the total 1,193 votes cast on the Democrat ballot. Corwin will now challenge incumbent Republican Rhea Youtsey in November.

Interest in the sheriff’s race heightened with news of misdemeanor assault charges filed against one candidate, Darren Price. The St. Joseph News-Press reported Friday that a special prosecutor, Douglas Roberts, issued a summons just days before the primary election after a lengthy investigation. The charge stems from an incident which occurred last March 29.

According to documents filed with the charges, Mr. Price observed Randy Worthy of Gallatin involved in a fight in Casey’s parking lot. Price identified himself as a city police officer although he was discharged from those duties at the time after the city council had restructured the police force. According to the report, Price had Worthy by the neck up against a car, in a headlock.

Gallatin Police Chief Jim Wycoff was on the scene and did not act upon Worthy’s request to arrest Price on the spot.

The special prosecutor, who is the Livingston County prosecutor, took the case after Gallatin City Attorney Bill Lewis cited a conflict of interest. Lewis was involved in the dissolution of the police force late last year.

Worthy has been charged with assault and disturbing the peace. Both Worthy and Price will be arraigned in Daviess County court at 11 a.m. on Sept. 14.

These circumstances were widely discussed locally prior to the election, some saying the news would work against Mr. Price in his bid for nomination for sheriff while others were saying the timing of the charges might lend Mr. Price sympathy. As a misdemeanor, however, Price could have gone on to serve as sheriff even if convicted. According to Daviess County Prosecutor Julia Roselle, only a felony conviction would prevent a resident from serving as sheriff.