Bozievich Holds Slim Lead; Fire Leaves Three Homeless

21 May 2014

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Local News

Bozievich Holds Slim Lead

The West Lane Seat on the Lane County Board of Commissioners is still up for grabs and it may take several days before a clear winner emerges.

Only 45 votes separate the incumbent Jay Bozievich from challenger Dawn Lesley this morning; with Bozievich holding the slim lead.

All of the ballots are counted, but results are still unofficial, Bozievich has 50-and-four-one-hundredths-percent of the vote… barely enough to avoid a runoff in the fall, with 7,412 votes to Lesley’s 49-point-73-percent… 7,367 votes.

If the margin holds up, Bozievich, would appear alone on the general election ballot in November.

The race is still too close to call and numbers may change in the coming days. If the difference between the two falls to within 34 votes, both could wind up in a runoff in the fall.

South Lane Commissioner Faye Stewart appears to be headed to a solo-spot on the November Ballot. He currently holds 50-point-25-percent of the vote in his district around Cottage Grove and Creswell, leading four other challengers.

The other incumbent… Sid Leiken, has easily won his three-way race in Springfield with just under 62-percent.

Early Morning Blaze Destroys RV

Fire Fighters say they’re not sure what caused the blaze that left three generations homeless early yesterday morning.

Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue Chief Jim Langborg said Susan Jones, along with her adult daughter and three-year old granddaughter were awakened just after midnight Monday to find their 22-foot travel trailer filled with smoke.

All three were able to escape, but by the time firefighters arrived at Big Spruce Mobile Home Park south of Florence, the RV was engulfed in flames.

Langborg said the initial investigation was unable to pinpoint the cause. Power to the trailer was provided by a series of extension cords plugged into an outbuilding. The Chief said that likely contributed.

The Red Cross responded with temporary assistance to the family.

Senate and Gubernatorial Matchups Set

Two statewide races are shaping up to be interesting in the fall.

State Representative Dennis Richardson won the Republican primary for Oregon Governor, defeating five other candidates with 61-percent of the vote. He’ll go up against incumbent Governor John Kitzhaber, who is seeking his fourth term.

Richardson was heavily favored to win the election against a field that lacked money and name recognition. But, it’s going to be a very different story over the coming months as Richardson mounts his challenge.

Democrats hold a sizeable advantage in voter registration in Oregon, but the botched rollout of the Cover Oregon health insurance exchange figures to be a major issue this fall.

Monica Wehby won the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, defeating State Representative Jason Conger of Bend, by a 52-percent to 36-percent margin in the five-way race.

Wehby, a pediatric neurosurgeon from Portland has excited Republicans in Washington D.C. who hope she will be the perfect candidate to attack President Barack Obama’s health care law as she goes up against one-term Senator Jeff Merkeley.

Low Voter Turnout

The voter turnout in Lane County was one of the lowest for an even-year primary since vote-by-mail began. Despite a hotly contested Republican Senate primary; three contested county commission races and several tax levies fewer than three-in-seven registered voters weighed in with a final tally of 29-point-six percent.

Democrats turned out in force with a 52-percent turnout; Republicans only turned out at a 34-percent rate.