Skip Shiver Upsets Sheriff Mock

Undoing his defeat four years ago in the Democratic primary, Skip Shiver sailed to victory over Sheriff Mike Mock in Tuesday's elections.

Winning by nearly 10 percentage points and 363 votes, Shiver reversed the results of 2004 and set the stage for a November fight against Republican challenger Bruce Barnes.

In the Supervisor of Elections race, Ida Cooper Elliott's 12 percentage point win in the Democratic primary over Renee Griffin Shiver ensured she will replace retiring elections chief Doris Shiver Gibbs, since no GOP challengers filed to be on the November ballot.

In the battle in the Democratic primary for school superintendent, Nina Marks sailed to victory over Temolynn Wintons, winning by nearly 50 percentage points.

The win sets up a high-profile battle against Republic challenger Denise Butler, and Will Kendrick, who is running without party affiliation.

Supervisor of Elections Doris Gibbs said turnout was at 60.7 percent, as 7,552 voters cast ballots. Of these, nearly 84 percent were as Democrats.

"It's awesome man, it's been a long week, and I've had a tremendous amount of support," said a jubilant Shiver, from his Apalachicola home.

"I felt positive from day one and stayed positive," he said. "I'm ecstatic, it's obvious people are ready for a change."

Shiver said he plans to approach the general election the same way he did the primary, working for every vote and taking the high road against Barnes. Like Shiver, this will be Barnes' second bid for sheriff, having lost against Mock in the 2004 general election.

"I take nothing for granted," Shiver said. "I didn't in this run; I'm not going to count my chickens before they hatch.

"I stayed focused and let all kinds of rumors beat off my back and I think that paid off," he said. "I did nothing negative, just ran a good clean race, and I expect to do the same thing in the general election. A good clean race and may the best man win.

"Tomorrow I'll be back campaigning," Shiver said. "I can't let any grass grow under my feet."

Elliott was joyous, and a bit exhausted, at her win.

"God blessed me, He did," she said. "I worked so hard and the people spoke and I feel wonderful. I feel like I'm going to do a good job for the people, I'm going to carry out my duties the same way we have been.

"It's just a wonderful, wonderful feeling," said Elliott. "I had a lot of good people working for me and God just blessed, He blessed me. I'm proud, very proud."

After taking a leave of absence from her job to campaign, Elliott said she plans to return this week to her duties as assistant to Gibbs. "If I can wake up in the morning that is, because I haven't slept for so long, I'll go back tomorrow," she said.

"I'm ready to go back to work. I missed it," Elliott said. "I'm ready to get back in my chair.

"This is the first election I have missed in 29 years, the first time that I have not went and opened up a polling place," she said. "I'll be glad to go do it again."

Crofton, Putnal Both Win Primaries

The two incumbent Democratic county commissioners, Russell Crofton and Bevin Putnal, both won their primaries. Each faces a Republican challenger in November.

In District 1, Crofton, with 400 votes, secured 44.2 percent of the vote, winning by 102 votes over David Ray Ard and by 192 votes over Joseph Rickards.

Crofton now faces Republican challenger Pinki Jackel in the November general election.

In District 5, Putnal easily bested challenger Hank Garrett, winning 612 votes, or 71.3 percent, to Garrett's 247 votes, or 28.7 percent.

Putnal now faces Republican challenger Dawn Radford in the November general election.

No School Board Candidates Win a Majority

In the District 1 school board race, George Thompson narrowly missed an outright win, as he took 48.6 percent of the vote, or 548 votes, in the three-person field.

He will face runner-up Tom Loughridge, who had 307 votes in the primary, in the November general election. Abbie Shiver, with 279 votes, finished a close third.

In the District 5 school board balloting, Carl Whaley finished first, with 408 votes and 40.8 percent.

He will face runner-up Katie McKnight, with 307 votes or 30.7 percent, in the November general election. Tim Whitehead ran a close third, with 285 votes, or 28.5 percent.