By Tim Eberly
A total of 707 Havreites unglued themselves from their television sets and the ongoing coverage of the terrorist attacks on the United States to vote in the Tuesday's city primary election.
Diane Mellen, Hill County clerk and recorder, said the 17 percent turnout was a relatively normal turnout compared with recent years.
"We've had primarys (with) as low as 4 percent turnout and as high as 28 percent," Mellen said. "It's always lower than we would like to see but definitely not the lowest we've had."
Allen "Woody" Woodwick won the Ward 4 Democratic primary by receiving nearly twice as many votes as his opponent, four-term incumbant City Council member Arnold Tyler, 91 votes to 46.
Woodwick, Tyler and other Democrats involved in the primary were at the Vets Club Tuesday night when a runner brought the election results from the Courthouse. Woodwick said he and Tyler shook hands when his victory was announced.
"I believe yesterday's tragedy overshadowed the election," Woodwick said, "but I was pretty happy with the outcome. I talked to a lot of people and went out with genuine concern. I think people responded to that."
On the other side of the Ward 4 primary, Republican Erik Meis edged Ronald Wolford by three votes, 27-24, to advance to the general election. Meis could not be reached for comment.
The election was a formality for everyone else on the ballot. Dana West, D-Ward 1, Richard Pierson, D-Ward 2, and Thomas Farnham, D-Ward 3, were unopposed in the primary election. Also, R. Cameron Worstell, R-Ward 1, and Jerry Hanson, R-Ward 2, advanced without opposition.
Democrat Mike Shortell garnered 410 votes in the mayoral primary. Roberta Demarest, who has withdrawn from the race, drew 35 votes. Republican mayoral candidate Bob Rice was unopposed.
Both candidates for city judge, incumbent Joyce Perszyk and Carl White, both advanced to the November general election.
