Hoggard wins by landslide

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 7, 2008

WINDSOR – Unofficial results are in for the three-way Bertie County Commissioner’s seat race.

Incumbent L.C. Hoggard, III won in a landslide victory over the other two candidates, former school member Nick Shook and political newcomer Ronald Wesson.

Hoggard earned a total of 2,681 votes in the 12 county precincts, or 53.8 percent.

Shook garnered 1,351 total votes (27.11 percent) and Wesson received 951 (19.08 percent).

Hoggard nearly swept each of the county’s 12 precincts as he gained the upper hand in 11 polling places. The lone exception was the “Windsor 2” precinct (Askewville) where Shook received 115 votes compared to Hoggard (94) and Wesson (19).

The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald contacted Hoggard for his reaction to the win.

“It was a good clean race for all candidates,” stated Hoggard, who will now begin his third term in office since he has no Republican opposition during November’s General Election

He continued, “The voters have decided that they like the direction in which the county is moving and my goal is to continue to work with all the citizens of the county to do what’s best for the citizens of Bertie.”

Hoggard, a Windsor resident, was first elected in 2000.

“One woman who said she supported me told me that all she asked of me was for me to continue to be fair and that has stuck in my mind.

I promise to do just that,” he concluded.

Hoggard has served the last two years as vice-chairman of the commissioners.

Bertie County Board of Election officials stated that this election saw the best turnout in a primary they’d ever seen.

Countywide, 5,782 ballots were cast, or 43.54 percent of the registered voters.

Normally in a primary, approximately only one third of voters turn out, or about 33 percent.

Provisional votes and official results for the election will not be available until next Tuesday.