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NEWS
Williams, Thacker lead race for at-large seats
HUNTINGTON -- Steve Williams and Rebecca Thacker were leading Tuesday night among a field of six Democrats vying for two at-large seats on Huntington City Council.
If they hold their lead, Williams and Thacker will face Republicans Mike Davis and Alex Vence in the Nov. 4 general election. The GOP candidates were unopposed in the primary.
City Council's two current at-large members -- Garry Black and Paul Farrell -- did not run for re-election.
With all of the 36 city precincts counted in Cabell County and at least two of seven city precincts reporting in Wayne County at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Williams had the most votes (3,494) among the Democratic at-large candidates, according to unofficial returns. Thacker was second with 2,488 votes.
Tuesday's primary also guaranteed the return of five incumbent council members. District 1 Councilman Jim Ritter and District 7 Councilman Scott Caserta were the only candidates to file in their district.
Meanwhile, District 3 Councilwoman Frances Jackson, District 5 Councilwoman Sandra Clements and District 9 Councilman Jim Insco all won their primary races. The three Democratic incumbents are unopposed in the general election.
Jackson received 220 votes to Charles Harless' 114.
Clements (705 votes) dominated challengers John Vance (144 votes), Osagie Ayanru (90 votes) and Jeremiah Jasper (84 votes). Insco (438 votes) edged out Richard "Rick" Simmons (412 votes).
That leaves the two at-large seats as well as districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 as the only contested council races in the fall.
In District 2, incumbent Teresa Loudermilk (234 votes) squeaked by challenger Pete Gillespie (225 votes). Clinton Bowen and Tom McCloud finished third and fourth, respectively. Loudermilk will face Republican D. Everett Fullerton in the general election.
Democrat Brenda Adams and Republican Nate Randolph were unopposed in the primary and will square off in the general election for the council's district 4 seat. Curt McHaffie, an independent, could join them. McHaffie filed a petition to be placed on the general election ballot, but the signatures still must be verified, assistant city clerk Kathy Torlone said.
In the only contested Republican primary race in Cabell County, Mark Bates defeated Deron Runyon by 50 votes for the council's District 6 seat. Bates will face Democrat Ray Browning, a retired Huntington firefighter and president of the Walnut Hills neighborhood association, in the general election.
Democrat Russ Houck, a retired Huntington policeman, and Republican Levi Lovett, a Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District commissioner, will vie for the District 8 seat in November. Both were unopposed Tuesday.
