Published: November 06, 2007 11:17 pm      

Area voters in line with statewide balloting

ASHLAND — Throughout Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Lawrence and Elliott counties, Democrat Steve Beshear and running mate Daniel Mongiardo maintained a healthy lead across the board in the race against incumbent Gov. Ernie Fletcher.

Boyd County election officials reported a 31 percent voter turnout with 10,962 of the county’s 35,330 registered voters casting ballots. Beshear and Mongiardo garnered 7,239 votes compared to 3,723 for Fletcher and running mate Robbie Rudolph.

In Carter County, 5,833 of the county’s registered voters made it to the polls for a 31 percent turnout rate. Beshear and Mongiardo earned 4,024 votes and Fletcher/Rudolph received 1,809 votes.

In Greenup County, where election officials reported a more than 31 percent voter turnout, Beshear and Mongiardo had 5,738 votes compared to 2,686 for Fletcher and Rudolph. Of the 26,897 registered voters in Greenup County, 8,424 made it to the polling places.

In Elliott County, 1,836 of the 5,080 registered voters visited polling places for a 36.1 percent voter turnout — the highest in the FIVCO region. Elliott County voters overwhelmingly favored the Beshear/Mongiardo ticket over Fletcher and Rudolph with 1,631 votes for the challengers compared to 205 for the incumbent.

In Lawrence County, officials reported a 30.9 percent turnout at the polls, with 3,488 of the county’s 11,285 registered voters casting ballots.

Lawrence County voters favored the Beshear ticket with 2,310 votes compared to 1,178 for Fletcher and Rudolph.

Commenting on the unofficial election results statewide, Kentucky AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan said, “Today marks a new day for Kentucky working families. Never before have working people turned out with such enthusiasm to vote for candidates who will stand side by side with working people. At the end of the day, bread-and-butter economic issues drove working people to the election booth. Union families were ready to elect candidates who will fight for issues like good jobs, quality healthcare, and a secure retirement.”

RNC Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan released the following statement on the Kentucky elections:

“Democrats targeted Ernie Fletcher from day one, but even with the unique circumstances of the governor’s race, they could not stand in the way of the Republican Party’s fundamental strength in the state. Voters in Kentucky will continue to support lower taxes, limited government, strong national defense, and individual responsibility. Our success today, including the re-election of Secretary of State Trey Grayson and Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, made it very clear that the Commonwealth is and will remain a Republican state.”

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.