|
|
|
PITTSBURG —
Surviving a late surge, Democrat newcomer Carl Wood was elected to the Third District seat on the Crawford County Commission.
Wood defeated Republican challenger Thomas Hayes by 308 votes, unofficially, during Tuesday’s general election.
Wood will replace Democrat and former Pittsburg City Commissioner Ralph McGeorge in January.
In August, Wood defeated McGeorge — who was running for a second term on the County Commission.
Late in the ballot counting, Hayes did receive a slight bump that nudged him closer to Wood, but was never able bridge the gap.
“The push at the end was not enough,” Hayes said. “There was not enough Republican representation from Pittsburg.”
Hayes said that, he believed, the difference was that Wood was more well-known in the district.
“He knows a lot of people and he worked hard and had more signs than just about anyone in the whole state,” Hayes said.
Both candidates campaigned on the county budget, with Hayes proposing a zero-balance budget approach. The proposal would leave the county starting with zero when it starts its budget process and build up as opposed to starting from previous year’s figures.
“We tried to make a point on a few things and hoped that it would carry, but it didn’t,” Hayes said.
Now, he said, he will focus on his other activities.
Wood could not be reached for comment on Tuesday night.
Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140
Surviving a late surge, Democrat newcomer Carl Wood was elected to the Third District seat on the Crawford County Commission.
Wood defeated Republican challenger Thomas Hayes by 308 votes, unofficially, during Tuesday’s general election.
Wood will replace Democrat and former Pittsburg City Commissioner Ralph McGeorge in January.
In August, Wood defeated McGeorge — who was running for a second term on the County Commission.
Late in the ballot counting, Hayes did receive a slight bump that nudged him closer to Wood, but was never able bridge the gap.
“The push at the end was not enough,” Hayes said. “There was not enough Republican representation from Pittsburg.”
Hayes said that, he believed, the difference was that Wood was more well-known in the district.
“He knows a lot of people and he worked hard and had more signs than just about anyone in the whole state,” Hayes said.
Both candidates campaigned on the county budget, with Hayes proposing a zero-balance budget approach. The proposal would leave the county starting with zero when it starts its budget process and build up as opposed to starting from previous year’s figures.
“We tried to make a point on a few things and hoped that it would carry, but it didn’t,” Hayes said.
Now, he said, he will focus on his other activities.
Wood could not be reached for comment on Tuesday night.
Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140
