Election morning started out with drizzling rain and cold temperatures, but the sun came out and temperatures warmed up in the 50s sending 30 percent of registered voters to the polls in the City of Salem Municipal General Election and giving all Republican candidates a win.
And delivering Salem it’s first Republican Mayor in 34 years.
In the biggest race of the election, Republican and City Council President Justin Green handily defeated Democrat Bill Ackerman, 930 to 358.
Ackerman only topped 100 votes in one out of three precincts, in Salem 3.
Green defeated Ackerman by a 2-1 margin in all four precincts.
Green, a three-term Salem City Councilman, defeated former mayoral candidate and Salem School Board member Ron Haendiges by 48 votes in May to win the Republican nod to run for City of Salem Mayor in the general election.
In the primary election, Green captured 338 total votes (including early voting and absentee) or 46.2 percent while Haendiges pulled in just 290 votes or 39.6 percent.
Republican Incumbent Clerk/Treasurer Clerk-Treasurer Sally Hattabaugh edged Democrat challenger Kevin Stewart, 743 to 549.
Stewart wasn’t on the ballot back in the spring and joined the race in the summer.
Republican Jody Smedley won the Salem City Council At Large seat with 739 votes to the 431 votes received by Democrat RH Bennett.
Republican Dan Libka won the Salem City Council District 1 seat 186 to 93 votes for Democrat Richard Longworth, who lost in the May primary for the Democrat nomination for Mayor.
Democrat Rick Stewart didn’t have a challenger in the Salem City Council and won that position with 193 votes.
In Salem Council District 3, Republican Incumbant Steve Crane won with 232 votes over challenger Jana Hayes, who garnered 169 votes.
In Salem Council District 4, Republican newcomber Gail Napier won with 180 votes to Democrat challenger Anthony Scifres who captures 147 votes.
BY THE NUMBERS
There were 42 absentee straight-party Republican votes compared to 18 absentee straight-party votes for the Democrat party.
In early voting, there were five straight-party Republican votes compared with only one straight party Democrat vote.
Republicans dominated at the polls in straight-party voting – Republicans had 72.2 percent of the vote with 226 straight tickets and Democrats had 87 straight-ticket votes (or 27.8 percent).
BY PRECINCT
Salem 1
Mayor
- R – Justin Green – 195
- D – Bill Ackerman – 84
Clerk/Treasurer
- R – Sally Hattabaugh – 149
- D – Kevin Stewart – 131
Council at Large
- R – Jody Smedley – 143
- D – RH Bennett – 102
Council District 1
- R – Dan Libka – 186
- D – Richard Longworth – 93
Salem 2
Mayor
- R – Justin Green – 201
- D – Bill Ackerman – 76
Clerk/Treasurer
- R – Sally Hattabaugh – 171
- D – Kevin Stewart – 104
Council at Large
- R – Jody Smedley – 156
- D – RH Bennett – 89
Council District 2
- D – Rick Stewart – 193
Salem 3
Mayor
- R – Justin Green – 294
- D – Bill Ackerman – 108
Clerk/Treasurer
- R – Sally Hattabaugh – 238
- D – Kevin Stewart – 168
Council at Large
- R – Jody Smedley – 242
- D – RH Bennett – 133
Council District 3
- R – Steve Crane – 232
- D – Jana Hayes – 169
Salem 4
Mayor
- R – Justin Green – 240
- D – Bill Ackerman – 90
Clerk/Treasurer
- R – Sally Hattabaugh – 185
- D – Kevin Stewart – 146
Council at Large
- R – Jody Smedley – 198
- D – RH Bennett – 107
Council District 4
- R – Gail Napier – 180
- D – Anthony Scifres – 147
MAYOR VOTING
In the mayor’s race, 72.7 percent of voters (958 total votes) compared to only 27.53 percent who chose Ackerman (364 votes).
Green received 146 absentee votes compared to only 51 for Ackerman.
Green captured 28 early votes (82.35 percent) compared to only 6 for Ackerman (17.65 percent).
During the polls today, Green received 784 votes compared to 307 votes for Ackerman.
CITY CLERK/TREASURER VOTING
In absentee voting for Republican Incumbent Sally Hattabaugh, 119 voters cast absentee ballots and 19 early votes. On election day, 624 voters chose Hattabaugh.
For Democrat Incumbent Kevin Stewart, he received 74 absentee votes and 15 early votes and 475 votes today.
CITY COUNCIL – AT LARGE
Republican Jody Smedley took 118 absentee votes with an additional 23 early votes. Today, 621 residents voted for Smedley.
Democrat challenger RH Bennett, earned 57 absentee votes with only 10 early votes. On election day, Bennett took 374 votes.
CITY COUNCIL – DISTRICT 1
Republican Dan Libka took 26 absentee votes with 3 early votes and 160 votes at the polls.
Democrat challenger Richard Longworth had 19 absentee votes and no early votes and 74 votes at the polls.
CITY COUNCIL – DISTRICT 2
Democrat Candidate Rick Stewart received 32 absentee votes, five early votes and 161 votes at the polls.
CITY COUNCIL – DISTRICT 3
Republican incumbent Steve Crane generated 42 absentee votes and six early votes and took 190 votes at the polls.
Democrat newcomber Jana Hayes gathered 17 absentee votes and took five early votes and another 152 votes at the polls.
CITY COUNCIL – DISTRICT 4
Republican Gail Napier received 21 absentee votes with seven early votes and 159 votes at the polls.
Democrat challenger Anthony Scifres recieved 23 absentee votes and six early votes with 124 votes at the polls.
