|
|
Poore to await canvass before conceding
5/15/2008 8:30 AM By Lawrence Smith -Kanawha Bureau
 | | Assistant Kanawha County Public Defender Meshea Poore takes a moment to analyze the returns in her race for the 31st House of Delegates race against incumbent Carrie Webster in Tuesday's primary election. Though the final tally gave Webster the victory, Poore wanted to wait until all challenged ballots were counted before conceding defeat. (Photo by Lawrence J. Smith) |
CHARLESTON - Though the tally shows her down by more than 100 votes, a Charleston attorney says she wants to wait until challenged ballots are counted before conceding defeat in her bid for House of Delegates.
Among the drama played out in Tuesday's primary election was the contest between Meshea Poore and Carrie Webster in the 31st District. Poore, an assistant Kanawha County Public Defender, was hoping to unseat Webster, chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee, in the minority-influenced district.
It was see-saw battle throughout the night as the initial tabulation showed Webster in the lead. However, later results saw the lead turn in Poore's favor.
About 10:30 p.m., Webster pulled even with Poore, and eventually overtook her by 11 p.m. The unofficial tally gave Webster the win, 1,686 to 1,568.
Because the Kanawha County Clerk's Office confirmed some challenged ballots in the race, Poore wanted to wait until Monday's canvass before conceding. Though acknowledging the results may not change, Poore says she owes it to those who voted for her and volunteered in her campaign to wait.
"For a newcomer to have this close of an election is unheard of," Poore said. "It's our duty to wait. Once we find out the results, we will respect that wholeheartedly."
Regardless, Poore said the people in the communities that comprise the district are better off because of the attention that was brought to the race.
"I'm truly pleased with what we've accomplished," Poore said. "I'm delighted to see as many people involved. We've seen progress and will move forward."
Webster, who works for the Charleston law firm of Bucci, Bailey and Javins, was not immediately available for comment.
Should the results stay in her favor, Webster will begin her fifth term as delegate, the longest in the district's history. Like Poore, Webster was an assistant Kanawha Public Defender prior to her election in 2000.
She took over for Charleston attorney Mark Hunt who vacated the seat that year to run successfully against Sen. Vic Sprouse. Hunt was first elected to the seat in 1992 following its creation the year before.
Tuesday night also saw Hunt make a second political comeback. In 2002, he was successful in winning one of the seven seats in the 30th District.
However, Hunt vacated his seat in 2006 in an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District. Hunt and Doug Skaff Jr. rounded out the ballot in the 30th thus effectively bumping David K. Higgins from the ticket.
Higgins, a Charleston city councilman and attorney with the law firm of Robinson and McElwee, was appointed to the seat in 2007 by Gov. Joe Manchin to fill the unexpired term of Jon Amores. Following last year's legislative session, Amores accepted a position as the Manchin administration's deputy secretary for commerce.
|
