Thursday's Internet Edition, September 02, 2010.

Election officials Carmen Reynolds and Barb Lesher (left) receive results from poll workers Terry Holstein (foreground) and Mary Miller Tuesday evening at the courthouse. Photo by Jim Cooper

Republican John Greathouse and Democrat Gary Mace won primary elections Tuesday and will face each other in the general election in November. Both men live in Spencer.

Greathouse, who is seeking his second six-year term on the commission, easily defeated Robin Stump, a member of Spencer City Council, 569 votes (58 percent) to 407 for the GOP nomination.

"I couldn’t even sleep last night," the 58-year-old Greathouse, who is retired, said after the outcome had been decided. "I wasn’t worried, but I was concerned."

Greathouse won in 18 of the county’s 20 precincts.

Mace, 40, a claims representative for an insurance company, scored an even more impressive victory with 677 votes (64 percent) to 376 for Roane County High School teacher Mark Craddock in the Democrat primary.

"I’m excited," Mace said after his first try at political office. "I’m really honored the voters of Roane County had enough faith in me to advance to the general election."

Mace lost in just one precinct and tied Craddock in another.

The large margin was a result of a concentrated effort, Mace said.

"A lot of phone calls and a lot of help," he said. "I was fortunate I had a lot of help. I’m excited about the next six months, getting out and meeting people and continuing on."

Greathouse said voters appreciated his willingness to listen to their concerns.

"Being able to work with the people…," he said. "I still think listening is 98 percent of what people want.

"I’ve got a lot of work to do, a lot of door knocking (before the general)," he added. "I think it will be a close race."

County commissioner was one of the few contested races on Tuesday’s ballot. In another, incumbent GOP state senator Frank Deem cruised to victory over challenger David Nohe, 358 votes (75 percent) to 121 in the 11 county precincts in District 3 despite losing in the overall tally. Nohe, the mayor of Vienna, won with 4,468 votes (52 percent) to 4,059 in the four-county district that also includes Pleasants, Wirt and Wood.

Nohe advances to face Democrat Tim Reed of Davisville in the general election. Reed was unopposed.

Other fall races set after the primary include Bob Ashley, an incumbent Republican, against Dr. Mark Myers of the Mountain Party in the 11th House of Delegates district. Both were unopposed in their primary elections. No Democrat filed for the office.

At the county level, Democrat Mario Sotomayor and Republican Andrea Stockner both were uncontested in the primary for circuit clerk. The winner in the fall will replace Beverly Greathouse, who did not seek re-election.

Mike Hall, a GOP state senator, was unopposed in District 4 and faces no opposition in the general.

Only 24 percent of county voters went to the polls in the primary. Final results were tabulated by approximately 9:45 p.m., a little over two hours after the polls closed.