BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cherryroad.com
A total of 62 votes out of 5,046 votes separated the top two Barry County presiding commissioner candidates, and it was one of the most rural precincts the difference was made.
Steve Blankenship won the Barry County Republican Primary Election, tallying 2,035 votes (40.33 percent) to runner-up Chad Johnson’s 1,973 votes (39.10 percent) and third-place finisher Andrew W. Henbest’s 1,038 votes (20.57 percent).
“I feel pretty good,” Blankenship said. “It was close. I knew it would be close, but it was a little closer than I would have liked. I worked hard, but I know they did, too. We were all sitting there [at the courthouse] together, and no one was fighting or had a bad word to say then or during the whole process, and I appreciated that. I didn’t know these guys before now, and I feel like I’ve made two friends.”
Johnson said even though he was only tens of votes short, he was happy with the result.
“I feel really good,” he said. “It went awesome, and I couldn’t have asked for more. As a campaign, we did all we could, and it came down to the voters. It was a fun experience, and a first-time experience.”
Henbest said finishing third was not what he had hoped.
“I’m obviously disappointed, no doubt about it, but I won’t worry,” he said. “I jumped in on a whim, and I knew it was a long shot to begin with. Congratulations to Steve, because he worked his tail off and he deserves it.”
Blankenship was behind Johnson for most of the evening as results rolled in, but two precincts specifically pushed him over the edge.
In Jenkins, his home precinct, Blankenship brought in 128 votes to Johnson’s 41 and Henbest’s 14. Kings Prairie/Pleasant Ridge was the other decider, with Blankenship receiving 130 votes to Johnson’s 48 and Henbest’s 64.
“I don’t know [what pushed me over],” he said. “I think it’s hard work, starting my campaign early and hitting it hard. I didn’t stop campaigning until last night.”
Johnson said harder work on his part may be the only thing would have swung the votes the other way.
“You can always work harder,” he said. “I could have gone door-to-door more in rural areas in the east side of the county so they know who I am as a person and a business owner. Other than that, I feel I hit it pretty good.”
Blankenship said once sworn in, he plans to start working immediately.
“I will start working on the betterment of the county the best I can,” he said. “I will work with the other officials to meet their needs, and listen to what the people want. What I campaigned on was listening to the people’s needs, and I will do what I can do to bring the county forward. We are in good shape, but we’ll try to get it in better shape if we can.”
Johnson said in the future, he may consider running again.
“We’ll see,” he said. “I’ve got all the stuff, and if in four years the opportunity still knocks and people want me to do it, I may.”
Henbest said he is also undecided on another run.
“I may consider it,” he said. “It depends on what the future holds.”
