HANCOCK COUNTY — Seven different at large candidates were vying for the three open seats on the Hancock County Council. Those running included three Republicans, three Democrats and one Libertarian with the top three vote totals earning the open seats.
Candidates on the ballot included (R) Kent Fisk; (R) Robin Lowder; (D) Carol Pearson, (D) Linda A. Robinson, (D) Frank G. Rock Jr.; (L) Luke J. Lomax. Another candidate, (R) John D. Jessup was also on the ballot. However Jessup is under house arrest in Las Vegas as he awaits a trial there. Jessup was arrested this summer and charged with sexual assault from an incident in Las Vegas in January of this year. He’s facing a criminal trial there Monday, Feb. 24
Heading into election day the big question in a staunchly Republican county was would voters elect Jessup despite the criminal charge he is facing. In the end, voters selected the full Republican slate of Fisk (21,767), Lowder (18,323) and Jessup (15,677).
Fisk noted he was pleased to see the support he received from the county because this will be his final term.
“I’ll be 65 when this new term is over and I think that’s enough,” Fisk said. “By the time I finish I’ll have 16 years of county service and I did 10 years on the Greenfield-Central School Board.”
Fisk was pleased to see both he and Lowder were re-elected noting it will be good for the county to some continuity on the council.
“At the beginning of this year we thought there could be possibly four different faces on the council with me and Lowder, Jeannine (Gray) was leaving for the Commissioner’s seat and then Keely (Butrum) was stepping down, and really that would have been devastating because there is such a learning curve on the council.”
Fisk said one of the biggest things he wants to make sure the county does is secure water aquifers for the future.
“We need to secure water aquifers all through the county,” Fisk said. “I’d like to see us dual up and make some parks and have some water aquifers you know that’s how Greenfield started with Riley Park which is a water aquifers we have to do it now, because in 50 years, water is going to be like gold.”
Lowder noted she was pleased to see county voters elected her for another term.
“I’m always pleased the county voters feel like I can do this for them again because I’ve always lived in Hancock County and I love this county,” Lowder said. “I will always leave it up to the voters and if they say I should do it I would honor that.”
Lowder noted there are several project she wants to see county officials continue on with including Amplify Hancock County project.
“I’m really excited to see how all of that turns out,” Lowder said.
While there were three Democrats and one Libertarian on the ballot, not one candidate could gather enough votes to make a dent in the race, even against Jessup who is facing a criminal charge in Las Vegas.
“I’m just disappointed that so many people voted for a guy who is in trouble with the law point blank and that people are not listening to the news and don’t care about the rule of the law,” Robinson said.
Robinson (10,095) finished fourth in the voting and noted she was happy with the race she ran in the county and does plan to run for office again.
“Most definitely,” she said when asked if she will try for a public office seat down the road. The other vote totals included Pearson (10,059) Rock, (7,666) and Lomax (5,329).
As for Jessup, county officials tell the Daily Reporter he called them and promised that, if he was one of the top vote-getters, he would step down immediately and allow them to hold a caucus and select a replacement.
“While the Republican Party can’t do anything until he is convicted of a felony, he did call me the other day and said if he wins he does plan to step down immediately,” Party Chair Janice Silvey said.
Jessup is facing serious charges in Las Vegas. Sexual assault is considered a Category A felony in Nevada, which is the most serious level of felony in the state. The sentence for a sexual assault conviction depends on several factors, including the victim’s age, whether the victim was injured, and the defendant’s criminal history. According to Las Vegas statutes, for forced sexual penetration or sexual penetration without the ability to consent, the maximum penalty is life with the possibility of parole after 10 years.
The Daily Reporter will have more on Jessup’s status and any plans the Republican Party might have surrounding his political status in Saturday’s Daily Reporter.
