Gates County’s citizens have spoken and a large majority apparently are satisfied with one incumbent commissioner as well as a widely popular retired school teacher.

In the only local contested races of the 2012 General Election, incumbent Commissioner Henry Jordan retained his Sunbury District seat on the board while former Gates County Public Schools instructor Linda Hofler tasted victory in her first bid for elected office by winning the Hobbsville District.

Both winners ran on the Democratic ticket.

Neither race was close as Jordan was named, in unofficial tallies, on 3,227 ballots (61.56% of the vote). His Republican opponent, Thomas W. Hill, collected 2,015 votes (38.44%).

Hofler, who now must resign her seat on the Gates County Planning Board where she served as the chairperson until June of this year, won by even a wider margin. She received 3,855 votes (68.07%) compared to Republican challenger Sidney Pierce III who was named on 1,683 ballots (31.93%).

“This is a very humbling experience for me, to have the vote and the confidence of the citizens of this county,” said Hofler on Tuesday night. “The people of Gates County have spoken and I will do all I can, the best job I can to make this county a better place to live.”

Hofler said she comes into this new position without an agenda.

“I want to work hard for all our citizens; make the best decisions that will benefit our citizens,” she stressed.

Hofler retired in June after serving Gates County Public Schools for 37 years.

“I’ve done homework for 37 years, so I guess why stop now,” she noted. “It’s all about getting all the information out on the table and making wise decisions. Those lessons of the classroom carry over into the commissioners’ room.”

Hofler added that she strongly believed her years in public education proved beneficial as far as capturing the overwhelming support of the county’s citizens.

“I saw so many of my former students and their parents out on Tuesday while I was working the polling places,” she said. “That personal contact over the years really helped me as I interacted with a broad spectrum of people.”

For Jordan, he was thankful for another opportunity to serve as a commissioner.

“I’m very, very thankful for all who supported me,” said Jordan, who currently serves as the Commission’s Vice Chairman. “I’m looking forward to serving in a manner that will ensure a better quality of life for allGatesCountyresidents. I thank God for this victory and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to lead this county into the future.”

In her landslide win, Hofler carried each of the county’s six precincts: 281-134 in Gatesville; 271-155 in Eure; 424-272 in Gates; 334-311 in #4 North (Corapeake); 298-92 in #4 South (Sunbury) and 298-175 in Hobbsville.

Jordanwas the top vote-getter in four precincts: 258-157 in Gatesville; 374-315 in Gates; 274-120 in #4 South (Sunbury) and 256-214 in Hobbsville.

Hill carried the Eure (235-182) and #4 North – Corapeake (350-288) precincts.

The only other county candidate on the ballot was incumbent Register of Deeds Sharon G. Harrell.  She was unopposed in her reelection bid and earned 3,821 votes.

Tuesday’s turnout saw 5,408 (63.49%) of the county’s 8,518 registered voters cast ballots. Of the votes cast, 2,276 were a combination of One-Stop and absentee ballots.