DOUG BINNEWIES After what has been a sometimes contentious campaign season, Mariposa County has a host of newlyelected officials. Late Tuesday night, the Mariposa County Elections Department posted the unofficial results of Tuesday’s primary election.

In the race for sheriff/coroner, Undersheriff Doug Binnewies was the big winner. Binnewies garnered more than 66 percent of the votes, beating Sergeant Mark Jones. The sheriff-elect said he was “ecstatic” on Tuesday night from his campaign party.

“I am humbled by the support and trust that the community has placed in me,” he said. “I thank Mariposa for its encouragement and look forward to serving as your sheriff.”

Binnewies also congratulated Jones on his effort. “I sincerely appreciate the tremendous effort and personal commitment he and his team have put forth,” he said.

JANET BIBBY Binnewies, who will take office in January, 2011, said he is looking forward to continuning to safeguard public safety here. “We have something special in Mariposa County. We value public safety and community health,” the newly-elected sheriff said.

The contest for District 1 supervisor was a close one, changing leaders from beginning to end. When all was said and done, however, challenger and former supervisor Lee Stetson reclaimed the seat he lost four years ago.

Supervisor Brad Aborn had the early lead, with 51.29 percent of the vote after just the absentee ballots were counted. Stetson was close with 48.71 percent. Just 11 votes separated the two early on. In the last election, Aborn won by less than 20 votes.

The tally at the end of the night switched, however. Stetson ended his campaign with 55 percent of the District 1 votes. Aborn had the remaining 45 percent, but there was only a 76 vote margin between the two.

LEE STETSON Stetson commented on his win on Wednesday morning. “I am extremely gratified that the constituents of District 1 have returned me to office,” he said. “I look forward to serving them with all that I can muster for the next four years.”

District 3 has seen a very contentious race. Four candidates were vying for the spot, with the incumbent, Janet Mankins-Bibby, soundly defeating her challengers. She finished the race with more than 63 percent of the total 1,360 votes cast.

Challenger Tolley Gorham was a distant sceond with 211 votes or 15.5 percent. Engineer Floyd Davis, Jr. finished with 176 votes, and developer Theresa Castaldi drew 115 votes.

Mankins-Bibby was thrilled with the outcome. “We want to thank the voters of District 3 so much for their continued support,” she said. “I am elated and will continue striving for our district’s, and our county’s success.”

BILL DAVIS Mariposa County’s new auditor is William “Bill” Davis. He took 55 percent of the 5,148 votes cast. His opponent, Eric Oster, finished the race with the remaining 45 percent of the votes.

Davis said it was a team effort that got him the win. “We had a lot of people helping us, and obviously that’s what it takes to win,” he said Wednesday morning “We really appreciate their support at the polls.”

Mariposa’s own Les Marsden, who was making a bid for the democratic slot in the November general election for George Radanovich’s congressional seat, fared well in local voting, but was unable to get the support he needed to win outside Mariposa County. Marsden had more than 70 percent of local votes, but appears to have lost to Loraine Goodwin by about seven percent.

MARIPOSA COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT STAFF STARTED COUNTING VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOTS ON MONDAY EVENING, BEFORE THE PRIMARY ELECTION. THE COUNTY’S TOTAL VOTER TURN-OUT FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION WAS NEARLY 51 PERCENT, A FIGURE THAT ELECTIONS CLERK KEITH WILLIAMS ALMOST PERFECTLY PREDICTED. THE VOTE-BY-MAIL TURNOUT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN AT PRECINCTS AT 29 PERCENT OF TOTAL VOTERS. PRECINTS HAD THE REMAINING 21 PERCENT. PICTURED ABOVE ARE ELECTIONS STAFF MEMBERS KAREN HERMAN, MARIAN CASNER, COURTNEY PROGNER AND WILLIAMS. GAZETTE PHOTO BY JILL BALLINGER Early returns also indicate that Jeff Denham, the man hand-picked by Radanovich to replace himself, is the winner of the republican primary for the same seat. Denham got heavy support in Mariposa County, taking 44 percent of the votes. District-wide, Denham had a more narrow margin, barely defeating former Fresno Mayor Jim Patterson by less than five percentage points.

Kristin Olson, a Modesto City Council member, was leading the race for the 25th district state assembly seat. She had about 28 percent of the total votes cast for the sixperson contest. She was followed by Bill Conrad’s 21 percent. Embattled Riverbank City Councilman Jesse James White had just five percent.

It appears that the only proposition that passed is Proposition 14, which would allow for an open primary election in California. The others look to be headed for defeat.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS STORY, OR READ OTHER COMMENTS, VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.MARIPOSAGAZETTE. COM