HUNTINGTON -- Democratic voters in Cabell County ousted two incumbent magistrates and nominated another who dropped out of the race earlier this year, according to unofficial results from Tuesday's primary.
Cabell County voters nominated challengers Amy Daugherty and retired Huntington Police Officer Don Maynard. If they win November's general election they would replace incumbents Alvie Qualls and John Ray Rice, who did not win the nomination Tuesday night.
Daugherty led the way in the 18-candidate race all evening. She captured 7,041 votes, or 9.43 percent of the vote. She promised to bring integrity and common sense to the office if elected in November.
"Am I happy? I don't know if that is the word. I'm shocked. I'm numb," she said. "We need new blood down there and we know that. Everybody knows that. I'm ready to build up the faith and confidence back into the magistrate system."
Daugherty and Maynard were among seven Democrats nominated in the party's race for magistrate. Other Democratic nominees were Johnny McCallister, Darrell Black, Betty J. Wolford, Mike Woelfel and surprise winner Patty Verbage-Spence.
A performance evaluation and medical reasons led Verbage-Spence's resignation in March. Her attorney said doctors had determined 65 percent of her heart was inoperative. The Circuit Court also had questioned her competency. Court officials asked her to step down, and informed her removal proceedings would commence if she refused.
Cabell County Clerk Karen Cole said Verbage-Spence publicly dropped out of the race, but never filed formal paperwork to do so. Her announcement came too late for her name to be removed from the primary ballot. Cole said the nominee will need to decide if she will accept the nomination and move forward. If she officially withdraws, Cole said the Democratic Party leaders will be able to nominate another candidate.
The Democratic winners will face Republican challengers Carlen (Len) Merritt, Rondall "Ron" Baumgardner and Teresa L. Beter. They were unopposed in three-way race for seven nominations. Baumgardner received the most votes with 3,003.
Rice received almost five percent of the Democratic vote. He had served as a judge in the county's judicial system since 1964.
Qualls received 3.09 percent of the vote. He is currently suspended with pay and was hospitalized during last weekend. He was still in stable condition at St. Mary's Medical Center as of Tuesday evening. He was suspended amid sexual harassment and incompetency charges. He has denied those allegations, along with saying he is physically and mentally able to serve.
The unofficial vote tallies resulted in Daugherty receiving 7,041 votes; Woelfel 6,236; Black 5,846; Wolford 5,595; McCallister 5,150; Maynard 4,824; Spence 4,591. Those finishing outside of the top seven were Dan Goheen with 4,369 votes; Rice 3,716; Brandee McCoy 3,709; Laura Beckett-White 3,526; Danne J. Vance 3,237; Homer Heck 3,198; Gregory C. Miller 2,938; Opal Sanders 2,590; Alvie Qualls 2,305; Lisa Pulley 2,186; Ralph J. Hensley 1,850; and Timothy (Tim) Fox 1,780.
Among the Republicans, Baumgardner's 3,003 votes equaled 34.33 percent of the vote. Beter received 2,889 votes and Merritt received 2,855 votes.
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