Big Horn County General Election The Lovell Chronicle/STPNS By David Peck for The Lovell Chronicle November 09, 2006 http://www.topix.net/content/smalltown/0501573528189165926537175562373242313388 I appreciate the voters' confidence and I hope I can live up to all of their expectations LOVELL, Wyoming (STPNS) -- Big Horn County voters overwhelmingly elected Ken Blackburn sheriff Tuesday, as a write-in bid by incumbent sheriff Dave Mattis fell far short. Meanwhile, both Republican nominees were elected to the Big Horn County Commission, with Thomas "Scotty" Hinman topping the ticket and joining incumbent Keith Grant on the commission. Democratic nominee Felix Carrizales of Burlington was a strong third place, with Democratic Greybull businessman Bill Burbridge a distant fourth. Blackburn, of Cowley, the Republican nominee for sheriff and former deputy who edged Mattis by 158 votes in the Aug. 22 Primary Election, received 2,965 votes unofficially in Tuesday's General Election, 1,651 more than the total number of write-in votes recorded in the election, most of which - but not necessarily all - would likely have been received by Mattis in an effort to win re-election through a write-in bid. County Clerk Dori Noyes said Tuesday night that, with provisional ballots yet to be certified and counted, she could not officially declare Blackburn as the winner until the county canvassing board meets Thursday morning, but she said that if the provisional ballots added to Tuesday's votes do not eclipse the Blackburn totals, the canvassing board will not count the write-ins. Provisional ballots are ballots that are marked but not counted until proper voter identification is provided or other eligibility issues are cleared up. While a head-to-head count could not be officially determined Tuesday night, Blackburn received more votes than total write-in votes in 11 of the county's 13 precincts. He dominated in the north end of the county with 1,693 votes compared to 222 write-in votes, and he also carried the south end of the county with 1,272 votes in the eight precincts compared to 1,092 write-in votes. Write-in votes topped the Blackburn total only in Hyattville, 43-33, and in Shell, 111-105. In an interview Tuesday night, Blackburn said he was ready to go to work as the next sheriff of Big Horn County, and he was appreciative of the strong show of support Tuesday. "I feel we left no doubt tonight," he said, "and it's a credit to the people. Dave (Mattis) ran a hard race, and Mike (Patton) ran a hard race (in the Primary). They were good competitors. I honor them for their effort, and I'm ready to get going. It's time to move to the next phase." Blackburn predicted a "really smooth" transition period. He said he is already preparing for office and working to get his law enforcement certification current, and he's meeting and talking with federal, state and local law enforcement officials to forge a strong working relationship. "I'm already developing a strategic plan, and I have a check list I'm working through," he said, adding that he will also be sending out a survey to registered voters regarding the operation of the sheriff's office. Sheriff Mattis said that losing the bid for re-election Tuesday was disappointing but that, above all, the most important issue is the cohesiveness of the sheriff's department. "First of all, I'm disappointed with the results of the election, but I don't believe the write-in campaign was Ken Blackburn or I. On my part, it was about the people who make up the sheriff's department, who do the work," Mattis said. In response to Blackburn's stated goal of a smooth transition in January, Mattis said he also looks forward to a smooth transition when Blackburn moves into the position "to keep the cohesiveness of the department together," adding, "That is what is important for providing service to the county." Mattis said that after serving 12 years as Sheriff of Big Horn County, he would apply for retirement, "a step that is necessary for the time to work out." Future plans for next year at this point remain uncertain, but Mattis is optimistic that he will remain busy. "I'm always up for a project or a challenge," he said. County commission Strength in both ends of the county propelled Scotty Hinman to victory in Tuesday's General Election. Hinman was raised in the Shell Valley, graduated from Greybull High School, worked and lived in Lovell while working for the Big Horn Rural Electric Co. and now lives in Basin. Hinman topped the ticket with 2,907 votes unofficially, with Grant a strong second with 2,458 votes. Carrizales was a solid third, garnering 1,907 votes, and Burbridge was fourth with 670 votes. Hinman carried all eight south Big Horn County precincts and Deaver in the north end of the county. He also finished second in three of the five north Big Horn County precincts - Lovell, Cowley and Byron. Grant was strongest in Lovell with 941 votes, carrying Lovell, Cowley, Byron and Frannie, and he finished second in Emblem, Hyattville, Manderson and Deaver. Carrizales did not carry a precinct but finished second in Basin, Burlington, Otto, Greybull, Shell and Frannie. Hinman said he appreciated the support in Tuesday's election. "I appreciate the voters' confidence and I hope I can live up to all of their expectations," he said. Grant said he has enjoyed being a commissioner and is looking forward to continuing to work for the people of Big Horn County. "We've got some good projects going that I want to see through to fruition," he said in an interview Tuesday night. He said he likes the potential of the new B&G Industries aircraft refurbishing operation at the South Big Horn County Airport, noting, "We're just touching the tip of the iceberg on that." He also said there are some "really great" opportunities regarding management of Big Horn Lake and the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation area. "We're getting the ball rolling to gain the political ability to go after the promises that were made (years ago)," he said. "If we go for full development (of the national recreation area) and get a new reservoir management plan, we can make some things happen. We have some great recreational opportunities here." Grant said he will continue to work for north-south unity in the county, saying he hopes a rift that appeared to develop during the sheriff's race can be healed. "I feel real bad about the stuff that was thrown out during the campaign," he said. "I thought we had been working well together. Hopefully over the next four years we can put things together. We have an opportunity to really bring things together." Others unopposed All other county candidates were unopposed on Tuesday, with Republican nominees having no Democratic opponents. Voters re-elected Del Atwood Jr., as county coroner, Becky Lindsey county treasurer, Vickie Larchick clerk of district court and Dori Noyes county clerk. Also elected were Georgia Antley as county attorney and Gina Anderson as county assessor. The three legislators who serve Big Horn County were also unopposed Tuesday. Sen. Ray Peterson of Cowley received 2,974 votes in Big Horn County and 3,009 votes in Park County to retain his Senate District No. 19 seat, while Rep. Elaine Harvey of Lovell received 2,840 votes in Big Horn County and 90 votes in eastern Park County to retain her House District No. 26 seat. Rep. Lorraine Quarberg of Thermopolis received 1,156 votes in south Big Horn County en route to regaining her House District No. 28 seat, and she also garnered 1,749 votes in Hot Springs County for a final unofficial tally of 2,905 votes. © 2006 The Lovell Chronicle Lovell, Wyoming. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from STPNS.