Central Oregonian

ELECTION RESULTS

November 07, 2012

Some votes are still being counted around the country, but the bulk of the 2012 general election is now unofficially decided.

Crook County voters went against national tendencies in the presidential race in which Democratic incumbent Barack Obama defeated Republican Mitt Romney with at least 303 electoral votes. As of press deadline, the presidential race in Florida was still too close to call.

All results were collected 9 a.m., Wednesday morning.

Crook County voters, on the other hand voted 6,769 to 3,081 in favor Romney, giving him 66.47 percent of the votes.

Oregon voters elected Obama, giving him 53.23 percent of the vote with a 778,788 to 635,931 margin.

In the race for Oregon Second Congressional District, Republican incumbent Greg Walden again handily defeated Democrat Joyce B. Segers 197,709 to 81,950, giving him 69.21 percent of the vote. Local voters elected Walden by an even greater margin of 7,635 to 2,005 for 77.45 percent approval.

After a hotly-contested race for Oregon Secretary of State, Democratic incumbent Kate Brown won re-election with 50.73 percent of the statewide vote. She defeated Republican Knute Buehler 702,331 to 612,115. Crook County voters conversely voted for Buehler 6,211 to 3,130, giving him 63.86 percent of local vote.

The same state versus local results held true in Oregon's Treasurer and Attorney General races. Statewide, Democratic incumbent Ted Wheeler defeated Republican write-in candidate Tom Cox 774,917 to 487,147, giving him 58.34 percent of the votes. Crook County voted for Cox by a 5,400 to 3,574 margin (57.23 percent)

Oregon voters elected Democrat Ellen Rosenblum with 55.36 percent of the vote. She defeated James L. Buchal, the Republican write-in challenger 744,330 to 541,012. Crook County, however, voted in favor of Buchal 5,506 to 3,336 (59.22 percent).

In the race for Representative of Oregon's 55th District, Republican incumbent Mike McLane easily defeated Democrat John Huddle, receiving 68.33 percent of the vote district-wide, with a 16,988 to 7,820 margin. Crook County voters elected McLane by an even wider margin of 6,734 to 2,510, giving him 72.7 percent of the vote.

Republican Senator Doug Whitsett (R-Dist. 28) who ran unopposed was re-elected as well.

In the state non-partisan races, Richard C. Baldwin prevailed in a tight race over Nena Cook for Oregon Supreme Court, position 3, taking 51.29 percent of the votes statewide for a 531,282 to 498.620 margin. Crook County voters, on the other hand, very narrowly favored Cook 3,544 to 3,539.

The race for Oregon Court of Appeals, position 6, was not as close, with James C. Egan defeating Tim Volpert with 58.79 percent of the statewide votes for a 576,187 to 398,072 margin. Crook County cast an even greater percentage of votes for Egan, giving him 66.28 percent of the vote for a 4,423 to 2,204 margin.

Incumbent Brad Avakian won a close race for Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industry, garnering 51.91 percent of the statewide vote. He defeated Bruce Starr by a 554,531 to 507,329 margin. Crook County, conversely, favored Starr by a considerable 4,365 to 2,595 margin (62.17 percent)

Annette C. Hillman, who ran unopposed for Circuit Court Judge, District 22 (Crook and Jefferson County), was also elected.

In the local races, Republican incumbent Mike McCabe prevailed over Independent Walt Wagner 5,233 to 4,330, giving him 54.44 percent of the Crook County vote. Republican incumbent Ken Fahlgren, who ran unopposed was re-elected as well.

Crook County Treasurer Kathy Gray, who ran unopposed, was also re-elected.

In the Prineville City Council race, local voters elected incumbents Gail Merritt and Jason Beebe as well as Jason Carr. Merritt won 2,100 votes (30.13 percent) while Carr received 1,699 (24.38 percent) and Beebe garnered 1,383 (19.85 percent).

The three candidates defeated William (Brad) Peterson, who received 1,059 votes (15.2 percent) and Richard Johnson who won 654 votes (9.38 percent).

Prineville Mayor Betty Roppe also won re-election after running unopposed.

With the ballot measures, Oregon voters approved Measure 77 by a 772,213 to 558,665 margin (58.02 percent). The measure addresses government structure in the event of a major catastrophic event. Crook County, however, voted against the measure 5,242 to 4,320 (54.82).

Measure 78, which sought to clear up certain language in the Oregon Constitution, prevailed by a considerable 949,602 to 374,860 margin (71.7 percent). Crook County voters favored the measure as well, but by a closer count of 5,384 to 4,092 (56.82 percent).

Oregon voted in favor of Measure 79 as well, which prevents the state legislature from instituting a real estate transfer tax on property sales. The measure received 802,715 yes votes (59.36 percent) versus 549,541 no votes. Crook County approved the measure by a much wider 7,125 to 2,657 margin (72.84 percent).

Measure 80, which sought to legalize marijuana, was defeated statewide, 772,397 to 636,303 (54.83 percent). Locally, the measure received even less support, with Crook County voters rejecting it 6,571 to 3,395 (65.93 percent).

Measure 81, which bans gillnet fishing in non-tribal inland waters, met the same fate, with Oregon voters rejecting it 884,913 to 453,567 (66.11 percent). Crook County voted similarly, defeating the measure 6,642 to 2,980 (69.03 percent).

Oregon voters also rejected Measures 82 and 83, each of which was associated with allowing casinos on non-tribal lands. Measure 82, which allows privately-owned casinos in Oregon, was rejected 997,715 to 395,950 (71.59 percent). Measure 83, which would have opened the door for a privately-owned casino in Wood Village, was voted down 983,161 to 407,189 (70.7 percent). Crook County voters also rejected the measures, but by a narrower margin. They voted 6,577 to 3,332 against Measure 82 (66.37 percent), and 6,438 to 3,402 against Measure 83 (65.43 percent).

With Measures 84 and 85, Crook County voted counter to Oregon. Statewide, voters rejected Measure 84, which would have phased out the inheritance tax, 739,660 to 637,742 (53.7 percent). Crook County, on the other hand, approved the measure by a 5,999 to 3,856 margin (60.87 percent).

Oregon voters approved Measure 85, which allocates corporate tax kicker money to the general fund for education funding. The measure received 806,706 yes votes statewide (58.97 percent) versus 561,398 no votes. Conversely, Crook County voted down the measure 5,490 to 4,286 (56.14 percent).

A full story will run in the Friday, Nov. 9 issue of the Central Oregonian.