Gomez holds on; Sumner ousts Avila
CLIFTON — The Greenlee County Elections Department confirmed the final count of all provisional and early ballots and, as of noon Wednesday, the unofficial tally will stand, giving David Gomez another four years as county supervisor for District 1.
Greenlee County Supervisor David Gomez answers questions during a Chamber of Commerce candidate forum at the Morenci Club in October. Gomez won re-election Tuesday by 31 votes.
Ken Showers Photo/The Copper Era
Gomez extended his lead to 31 votes over challenger Shane Dunagan thanks to the final count. As of 10 p.m. Tuesday, Gomez was leading by just eight votes.
The final count also confirmed the defeat of incumbents Robert Corbell and Larry Avila.
Corbell was seeking re-election to the District 3 county supervisor seat, but his predecessor, Richard Lunt, defeated him. Lunt finished with 777 votes to Corbell’s 449.
On his Facebook page, Lunt posted, “My wife and I appreciate your support through this election. We cherish your friendships. Our lives are better from knowing each of you. We couldn't have won this election without the help of each and every one of you. We are truly humbled. May God's blessings be with Greenlee County, Arizona, and this nation.”
It was former deputy Tim Sumner taking the election for Greenlee County Sheriff, defeating incumbent Avila, 1,796 to 1,516.
Tim Sumner addresses the Greenlee County Board of Supervisors at its Feb. 3, 2015, meeting after being recently promoted to sergeant by Sheriff Larry Avila, seated right. On Tuesday, Sumner defeated Avila for the position of sheriff.
Copper Era Photo
In the only other contested election, incumbent County Assessor Linda Durr withstood a challenge by Douglas Reed. Durr won with 1,902 votes to Reed’s 1,320.
In Duncan, voters approved the continuation of the budget override for the Duncan Unified School District. 1,630 voted yes to 1,543 no votes.
Unopposed candidates
Winning re-election were:
• Ron Campbell, supervisor District 2
• Jeremy Ford, county attorney
• Diane Berube, county treasurer
• Tom Powers, county school superintendent
• Berta Manuz, county recorder
State races
Greenlee County voters broke with the rest of the state and supported the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, while agreeing with the state on a hike in the minimum wage.
Yes votes on the legalization of marijuana totaled 1,630, while no votes totaled 1,543.
For Prop 206, which increases the state’s minimum wage to $10 per hour in 2017 and incrementally to $12 by 2020, 1,853 Greenlee voters said yes to 1,303 voting no.
Greenlee fell in with the rest of Arizona Legislative District 14 — which includes Graham and Cochise counties — in re-electing incumbent state Senator Gail Griffin. Republican Griffin received 1,683 votes in Greenlee County to 1,525 for Democratic challenger Jaime Alvarez.
Drew John receives vote totals from Phoenix during an election night viewing party in Safford on Tuesday. John was the top vote-getter in the race for state Legislature for Dist. 14, which represents Graham and Greenlee counties.
David Bell Photo/The Copper Era
County voters also threw their support behind the two Republicans seeking the House seats in the district. Safford’s Drew John was the top vote-getter in Greenlee County with 1,715 votes, followed by Clifton’s Becky Nutt with 1,673 votes. The two Democrats — Mike Holmes and Jason Lindstrom — were shut out, with Holmes receiving 1,263 votes and Lindstrom 1,040.
John and Nutt also won Graham and Cochise counties, giving them the two seats.
National offices
Greenlee voters fell in line with the rest of the state when it came to president, with 1,892 voting for Donald Trump vs. 1,092 voting for Democrat Hillary Clinton.
The county was also on the winning side when it came to the U.S. Senate race, with 1,784 voters choosing incumbent Republican John McCain to 1,189 voting for Democratic challenger Ann Kirkpatrick.
Greenlee differed with the rest of the district — though not neighboring Graham County — when it came to the race for U.S Representative. Greenlee gave Republican Paul Babeu 1,497 votes to 1,454 for Democrat Tom O’Halleran. O’Halleran won the race thanks to Democratic turnout in Coconino County.
Follow David Bell on Twitter @EACourierEditor
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