BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The 2022 Primary Election is over and the winners have been proclaimed in Martin County. The results were mostly expected, but there were upsets and twists too.
Colby Kirk topped Eric Jude to win the Martin County Judge/ Executive seat 1,756 to 788.
Incumbent John Herman Kirk defeated four challengers in the race for Martin County Sheriff. He received 1,521 votes.
Martin County Clerk Susie Skyles earned another four years in her position after handily defeating challenger Kathy Jude Maynard 1,845 to 723.
Bill Preece won the Martin County Jailer’s nomination with 923 votes, defeating three opponents. He will face Democrat Jason Jude in November.
Incumbent Chris Todd routed opponent Zack Callaham 1,490 to 1,051 to remain as Martin County Coroner.
Newcomer Cody Slone upset incumbent Jarred Goforth to win the District 1 Magistrate seat 380 to 176.
Kermit Howell got the thumbs-up as District 2 Magistrate, beating seven opponents.
Tracy Spence upset incumbent Derrick Stepp by five votes in the District 3 Magistrate race, 207 to 202.
Incumbent Junior Hunt got 243 votes to defeat three challengers in the District 4 Magistrate race.
Ronald Workman upset incumbent Mark Blackburn 224 to 93 to win the District 5 Magistrate seat.
Incumbent Homer “Pickle” Mills will keep his District 1 Constable seat after beating Bobby Maynard 390 to 147. Randy Lafferty got 215 votes to beat two opponents running for District 2 Constable.
Alex Fannin won the District 3 Constable seat over Chester Blackburn 273 to 181.
Incumbent Melvin Mitchell Bowen got 210 votes to hold off two challengers in the District 5 Constable race.
In the newly drawn District 97, Republican Representative Norma Kirk McCormick carried the Martin County vote with 1,886 votes over Rep. Bobby McCool’s 406. Unofficial results from Johnson County had McCool with 3,388 votes and Kirk-McCormick with 603. Results from Pike County were unknown at press time.
U.S. Senator Rand Paul carried Martin County’s Republican Party vote. The Associated Press declared Paul the winner at 7:10. He will face Democrat Charles Booker in November.
U.S. Congressman Harold Rogers easily carried the Republican vote in Martin County. The AP declared Rogers the winner at 7:16 p.m. He will face Democrat Conor Halbleib in November.
Martin County Clerk Susie Skyles reported that 2,589 Republicans and 145 Democrats voted.
