Republicans buck national trend, prevail in local races

SANDPOINT - Bonner County voters have elected a new commissioner, sheriff and prosecutor.

Republican Cornel Rasor was elected to the District 1 seat on the county commission after defeating incumbent Democrat Todd Crossett by 896 votes. Republican Daryl Wheeler won the race for sheriff by an overwhelming majority and Louis Marshall gathered more votes than any other candidate seeking local office in his uncontested bid to be the county's next prosecutor.

Commissioner Joe Young, also a Republican, retained his District 2 post on the board with a 2,360-vote win over former Commission Brian Orr.

Rasor said he was "grateful and humbled" by his victory and admitted he has an idiosyncratic tendency to feel for his opponent in the contest.

"Whenever I've actually won something, I always feel bad for the guy that lost," said Rasor, who stayed up with his daughters through the night on Tuesday as results trickled in.

vampRasor said he resisted the urge to take ownership of the victory until the last precinct was counted and is looking forward to learning the ropes of the job.

"I've got a lot of learning to do. I've got a lot of plans and projects, but I think the first thing is to just be a learner and pay attention," he said. "There's a lot of good people down at the courthouse and I'm looking forward to working with them."

Crossett did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the race's outcome.

Young, who was in Boise Thursday to attend meetings on emergency communications and medical services, believes his competent track record over the last four years enabled him to reach a wider audience of voters.

"I believe we were able to cross party lines," said the Republican from Priest River. "I got a lot of Democrat votes this time."

Orr, who lost to Young by a 361 votes in 2004, was not immediately available for comment on Thursday.

"I am so thankful and feel so blessed to have gotten so much support throughout the county," said Wheeler, who won the most lopsided victory in a local contested race.

Wheeler, the GOP sheriff's nominee, beat Democrat Larry Hanna by 7,611 votes. Wheeler thanked the voters for their support and that of the business and church communities.

"My phone's been ringing off the hook," Wheeler said of the flood of congratulatory calls he's received.

Marshall, who succeeds Prosecutor Phil Robinson, was likewise grateful for the support he was shown. Marshall gathered 14,234 votes.

"I'm very excited and very thankful for the voters," he said.

Local election results

President

n Barack Obama (D) 7,840

n John McCain (R) 11,145

n Ralph Nader (I) 259

n Chuck Baldwin (C) 195

n Bob Barr (L) 108

U.S. Senator

n Jim Risch (R) 10,779

n Larry LaRocco (D) 6,970

n Rex Rammell (I) 483

n Pro-Life (I) 292

n Ken Marmon (L) 286

U.S. Representative

n Walt Minnick (D) 10,221

n Bill Sali (R) 8,604

State Senator District 1

n Shawn Keough (R) 11,442

State Senator District 2

n Joyce Broadsword (R) 3,446

n Rand C. Lewis (D) 1,378

State Rep. District 1A

n Eric Anderson (R) 7,175

n Steve Elgar (D) 6,710

State Rep. District 1B

n George Eskridge (R) 8,705

n Tom Hollingsworth (D) 4,874

State Rep. District 2A

n Mary Lou Shepherd (D) 3,051

State Rep. District 2B

n R.J. "Dick" Harwood (R) 3,195

n C.J. Rose (D) 1,514

Commission District 1

n Cornel Rasor (R) 9,643

n Todd Crossett (D) 8,747

Commission District 2

n Joe Young (R) 10,311

n Brian Orr (D) 7,951

Sheriff

n Daryl Wheeler (R) 12,972

n Larry Hanna (D) 5,361

Prosecutor

n Louis Marshall (R) 14,234

SOURCE: Bonner County Clerk's Office