As of this morning, Andy Tobin has pulled ahead of Gary Kiehne by 532 votes with one precinct left to report. It appears that Tobin took all precincts albeit by very narrow margins.
Ann Kirkpatrick took the seat back after Paul Gosar ran to another district because she was too hard to beat. Tobin will probably have to appeal to the ever increasing number of Independent voters to make a good showing.
STATEWIDE – Republicans have selected Doug Ducey to represent them in the governors race. John Huppenthal will no longer be the Superintendent of Public Instruction. It appears that Tom Horne has lost his race to Mark Bronovich. Tom Forese and Doug Little will probably be the the Republican candidates for Arizona Corporation Commission.
Michele Reagan will face former Attorney General Terry Goddard for the position of Secretary of State in the General Election.
In Coconino County elections voter turnout matched the predicted 25% with 25.72% of voters turning out to vote. As of 10:25 70 of 71 precints in the county reported.
Coconino County voted for Andy Tobin to represent them with 2,880 votes to 1986 votes for Gary Kiehne with 68 of 71 precincts reporting. Adam Kwasman received 1,308 of the 6,218 votes counted. Throughout the rest of the Congressional District 1, however, the numbers change drastically. As of this writing, the only race left is for Congressional District 1 where 14 votes separate Andy Tobin and Gary Kiehne. with 125 precints yet to report. This is basically the only race that has not been called.
Coconino selected Doug Ducey with Christine Jones coming in second by 2,262 to 1,555 votes respectively. Scott Smith came in fourth with Ken Bennett beating him out by 33 votes for third place. Doug Ducey, of course, has already been declared the Republican Candiadate for governor statewide.
The late Senator Chester Crandell will win the nomination for Senator for Legislative District 6. However Sylvia Allen will be the candidate for the seat. Currently she runs unopposed as there are no Democrats or official write-in candidates facing her. The only opposition she would have is if a write-in files.
There is no surprise that Brenda Barton and Bob Thorpe are the Republican nominees for State Representative for LD-6, but they will be opposed by Democrat Lanny Morrison.
In Flagstaff, Celia Barotz leads the Council race with 21.33% of the vote followed by Eva Putzova with 18.03% and Jim McCarthy in third with 15.10% of the vote. Scott Overton is followed by Charlie Odegaard 12.96% to 12.20% respectively.
Sandra J. Moriarity has won over Cliff Hamilton for the Mayor of Sedona with with 407 votes to 373 votes and both precints reporting. For council Angela Lefevre leads the race with 24.8% of the vote followed by John Thompson with 18.71%. Scott Jablow took third place with 16.60% of the vote. Rio Robson took 12.48% of the vote with the rest of the candidates receiving less than 10% each.
In Tusayan Bill Fitzgerald has taken 27.74% of the vote for council member. John Rueter has 24.52% of the vote, Craig Sanderson 20.65% and Rebecca Wirth 19.35%.
Since Proposition 402 passed in Williams, John Moore is declared re-elected for Mayor with the three councilmen; Donald Dent, Bernie Hiemenz and Lee Payne.
In the race for Justice of the Peace in Williams, incumbent Robert Krombeen won 615 votes to 360 votes for contender Jeff Brownlee. The Justice of the Peace race in Flagstaff appears to have gone to Howard Grodman with 53.89% of the vote agains Warren Sanford’s 45.79% of the vote.
In Sedona, Proposition 429 passed 499 votes to 237. Proposition 401 passed in Tusayan 36 to 24 votes. Proposition 400 in the Town of Fredonia passed 86 to 36.
FLAGSTAFF – The Arizona Department of Transportation is urging motorists headed to the annual Coconino County Fair this Labor Day weekend (Aug. 29 – Sept. 1) to allow extra travel time as traffic delays are expected. The main entrance to the Fort Tuthill County Park along State Route 89A remains closed due to an ongoing improvement project and traffic is routinely backed up onto Interstate 17 and SR 89A during special events at the park.
The park’s main entrance at Fairgrounds Road, which intersects with JW Powell Boulevard and SR 89A/Beulah Boulevard, has been closed since early June while ADOT continues construction of the realignment of SR 89A and two new roundabouts at this location.
During the fair, attendees will enter and exit the fairground at two alternate locations north of Fairgrounds Road. The first location is Fort Tuthill Loop, approximately 300 yards north of the main entrance. The second location is at West Purple Sage Trail, which is slightly more than one-half mile north of the main entrance on SR 89A.
Law enforcement officers will be in the area and signage will be placed to guide fairgoers into and out of the park through the holiday weekend.
Construction started on the $6.25 million SR 89A project in May and will continue through the end of the year, until the winter shutdown takes effect. ADOT will return in spring 2015 to perform final paving, striping and sign installation at that time.
In an effort to improve traffic flow and enhance safety, ADOT is reconstructing the SR 89A/JW Powell Boulevard intersection and southbound I-17 ramp/JW Powell Boulevard intersection, both of which were built in the 1950s and do not meet today’s modern safety design standards.
Once completed, SR 89A will be realigned and a new roundabout will facilitate the movement of traffic through SR 89A and JW Powell Boulevard at the park’s entrance. A second new roundabout will aid the flow of traffic using the southbound on- and off-ramps at I-17 and JW Powell Boulevard. In addition, the project includes new bike lanes and sidewalks in the area.
For more information on the project, please visit the project Web page at azdot.gov/I17_Powell, or call 855.712.8530.
WILLIAMS – The race for Justice of the Peace in Williams is the real local race to watch. The outcome not only effects Williams, but Valle and Tusayan, as well. The Justice of the Peace is also under contract as magistrate for the City of Williams. This has been the only contentious race in the City of Williams.
Jeff Brownlee is vying for the office of Justice of the Peace from incumbent Robert Krombeen. The winner of this race will be on the ballot in November. The only opposition they are likely to face is if another contender, or the candidate failing in this primary, faces a write-in candidate.
Anyone may file as a write-in candidate to be on the ballot for any County Office they qualify for. Candidates must file by September 25th by 5 pm. Write-in candidates must also file financial reports and disclosures and whatever other paperwork is required by any other candidate.
Electors may ONLY vote for write-in candidates who have filed the proper paperwork and whose name appears on the write-in candidates list provided at all of the polling places. If an elector writes in the name of a fictitious or real person as a “protest” vote, that vote will not be counted.
A person desiring to run as a write-in for a state or national office in the General Election in November must file through the office of the Secretary of State.
WILLIAMS – With an error rate of approximately +/-100%, our super-scientific just-like-CNN exit polling indicates that Mayor John Moore is leading the primary for re-election to the office of Mayor. Don Dent has a strong lead for one of the council seats. Bernie Hiemenz and Lee Payne, however, are running about 50% of the vote. This is based on the number of people polled.
If Williams passes Proposition 402 for Home Rule, they also pass a measure which will declare them elected without having to have their names on the ballot for the General Election. Susan Kerley, Clerk for the City of Williams, explained that this is legal since the number of candidates equals the number of seats available on the council. Since the vote for Home Rule has never failed, the aforementioned candidates will probably be considered elected after this primary without having to face a possible write-in candidate in the General.
The good news is that we will no longer have to suffer through the negative campaign ads going around. Oh, sorry. That was the governor’s race.
The other three seats will be up for grabs in two-years.
PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation is urging motorists traveling on Interstate 15 in the far northwest corner of Arizona to allow for extra travel time due to expected heavy traffic during this upcoming Labor Day weekend (Aug. 29 – Sept. 1) and be aware of an existing work zone through the Virgin River Gorge.
Delays of up to two hours have been reported on previous holiday travel weekends through the Virgin River Gorge, which is nearly 100 miles northeast of Las Vegas.
ADOT is currently working on a major reconstruction project on Virgin River Bridge No. 6 (milepost 16), located about 20 miles south of St. George, Utah.
While no active construction will be taking place during the holiday weekend, the highway is currently narrowed to one lane in each direction through the work zone until the project is completed in 2016.
This $27 million project includes the replacement of the bridge’s superstructure (girders, deck and railings), as well as widening the roadway through the narrow passage of the gorge.
With limited alternate routes due to the remote location of the I-15 Virgin River Gorge corridor, ADOT urges drivers to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, slow down and drive carefully through the work zone, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.
Photo by Brenda Carter
The accident apparently involved a semi and two vehicles. Traffic was detoured off of the freeway at exit 185 to the next on-ramp in Bellemont.
Williams resident Brenda Carter took these photos as she was caught in the traffic at about 1:15 pm. She said that there were no ambulances on the scene and it appeared that the clean-up operation had started.
Northern Arizona Gazette reminds drivers that the Labor Day holiday is coming next weekend and there will be many travelers on the highways. If you plan to travel, please rest well before your trip and do not allow distractions in your vehicle to allow this to happen to you.
Photo by Brenda Carter
Updated: 8:48 pm
WILLIAMS – Election day in the northland is expected to be full of thunder and lightning. And that is just the weather. The weather forecast for tomorrow is 90% chance of heavy rain with thunder. Winds will be from the south at 7- to 13-mph with gusts as high as 21-mph.
This could aid the already dismal prediction by the office of the Secretary of State of a voter turnout of about 25%. The prediction is based on statistics showing that voter turnout has fallen within that range for non-presidential elections.
In Williams, voters will decide two issues with Proposition 402. The first is that John Moore, running for re-election as Mayor, and the three councilmen running be declared winners in the primary without having to run in the general election in November. They are running unopposed for the first time in recent memory.
The second item is to decide to adopt the Home Rule option which will allow Williams to use alternate expenditure limits. Under this rule the city will be able to spend $20,524,880 in 2015-2016, $20,868,492 in 2016-2017, $21,220,580 in 2017-2018, and $21,581,371 in 2018-2019 based on the current budget process through April 24, 2014. The expenditure limitations are estimates which might be raised or lowered depending on available revenue.
There will be no surprises in the LD-6 race since all candidates are running unopposed. While the late Chester Crandell is still on the ballot and will win the election, former Senator Sylvia Allen was recently chosen to replace him on the ballot in November. The only surprises might be if someone decides to file as a write-in for November.
All eyes are currently on the race to see who will represent the Republican party for governor in November. Polls show Doug Ducey and Scott Smith in the lead for the nomination in the primary. Ducey is endorsed by Sheriff Joe Arpio who also endorsed Janet Napalitano. Scott Smith is endorsed by the current governor.
The one candidate who actually seemed to have some encouraging plans for Arizona, however, is Frank Riggs. He is against Common Core in schools and amnesty by executive order. He was recently endorsed by rocker Ted Nuggent for his Second Amendment stance. He is also in favor of charter schools. He started and left an organization promoting and helping charter schools get started.
All of the candidates speak of securing the border with National Guard as the State of Texas recently did. This, however, must come out of the State budget.
The outcome for the Republican nomination for Congressional District 1 will also be interesting. Voters will decide if Gary Kiehne, Adam Kwasman or Andy Tobin will battle against Ann Kirkpatrick in November. This race is also said to be a dead heat.
The other races of interest are the two “embattled” Republican John Huppenthal and Tom Horne. Both ran into scandals earlier this year and while the Republicans clamored to have Tom Horne step down, very few went after John Huppenthal if media reports are to be believed.
Despite the pleas, Tom Horne is seeking re-election to the office of Attorney General. Mark Brnovich is seeking the nomination from Tom Horne to face Democrat Felecia Rotellini.
Diane Douglas seeks to win the nomination for Superintendent of Public Instruction from John Huppenthal. Ironically, the communist element of Arizona revealed earlier this year that Huppenthal made posts on social media and various conservative web sites promoting himself for supporting Common Core—the communists answer to education. Diane Douglas is running on a platform to stop Common Core altogether.
VALLE – The Valle Airport (40G) is sponsoring the Thunder Over Coconino X fly-in this weekend. The event features guest speaker George Marrett. Mr. Marrett was the pilot of a Skyraider who flew “Sandy” missions over Vietnam.
You will also have the opportunity to fly in the 1929 Ford Tri-Motor aircraft for $99 a person. This is your only chance to fly in this historic aircraft.
The annual event will be held Saturday from 8 am to 3 pm. The event includes a pancake breakfast from 6:30 to 10 am for an additional fee. The event is $12 for adults and $6 for children. There is a max family package for $30.
The event also includes a car show. The airport, however, has their own cars and motorcycles on display all year. Their display is free.
While there you can visit the Planes of Fame museum full of various aircraft civilian and military. The Valle Planes of Fame museum is the home of the L-749 Constellation which was used as the private plane of General Douglas MacArthur. The museum is not part of the event but is open all year long so you can visit anytime. The entry fee for the museum is $6.95 for adults and $1.95 for children under 12. Tours of the Constellation are $3.00
Video of the L-749 Constellation, the private plane of General Douglas MacArthur, uploaded July 2010. The plane is now part of the collection of the Planes of Fame museum in Valle.
Three food companies issued recalls this month; the most recent nSpired Natural Foods. The food products were recalled because of salmonella risks.
Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses.
The recall effects nSpired peanut and almond butters, McCormick oregano and Sunfood Carob powder.
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