CEDAR CITY — Republican voters opted to maintain the status quo – at least in one of the Iron County Commission races – while voting for change in the other.
Results for Tuesday’s primary election won’t be finalized for nearly two more weeks when all of the provisional votes and late mail-in ballots are counted. However, for now, 1,744 votes went to keep incumbent Alma Adams in his current role as county commissioner in Seat A.
Candidates Jody Edwards and Sam Brower, who ran against Adams, split the vote down the middle with Brower receiving 1,276 and Edwards 1, 278. A total of 4,298 ballots were cast in the race.
For Seat C, voters chose to oust Casey Anderson electing instead, candidate Mike Bleak who scored 2,357 votes. Of the 4,207 ballots that were cast in this race, Anderson only took in 1,850.
The Iron County Republican Central Committee elected Anderson as the interim county commissioner to fill the empty seat left open in March by the resignation of former Commissioner Dave Miller.
The Committee voted Anderson in during the party’s convention in April to serve the remainder of this year when the winner from the general election in November will be sworn in. The committee is made up of the local party leadership, precinct chairs and the elected leaders from the county.
Adams and Bleak both echoed similar sentiments about their successful run for office.
“I’m very humbled with the results and am grateful that Iron County voters put their trust in me,” Bleak said. “Win or lose this was a great experience. I met so many people and heard their stories and it just strengthened my resolve to do the right thing.”
“I appreciate the support from the public and am grateful for their support,” Adams said. “I love this county and the people here. I’m grateful they gave me their support again. I’m humbled. I’ve always said, ‘I’m not a politician, I’m a public servant,’ and that’s the truth.”
The candidates’ victories aren’t secure yet, however, since both have challengers in the November election.
Bleak will be challenging Democratic candidate Scott Truman for Seat A, while Adams will face off against Libertarian candidate Wayne Hall and Kenneth Bauer, who is running on the Constitutional Party ticket.
While Iron County has always largely voted Republican, Bleak said he isn’t taking anything for granted.
“I’ve heard Truman is a viable candidate so I’m not going to count my chickens before they’re hatched,” Bleak said. “It’s going to be a good race, I think, and I’m ready for it.”
Adams said he’s hopeful for a win in November but, like Bleak, isn’t going to get too comfortable.
“I hope I’m successful again in November and that the people elect me for another four years,” Adams said. “In the meantime, I look forward to the race ahead in the coming months.”
Commission Seat C is for a full four-year term while Seat A is for the remaining two years Miller would have served had he stayed.
Ed. Note: Constitutional candidate Kenneth Bauer was incorrectly identified as Ryan Bauer.
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