May 3, 2011
05/04/11 The Marshall County 2011 primary election has now come and gone. Polls were open on Tuesday, May 3rd from 6:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M.; however, all precincts reported that voting was very slow all throughout the day.
Of the 8,353 registered voters qualified to vote in the Bremen and Plymouth municipal elections in the county, only 871 citizens actually voted. Of that number, 734 were machine ballots and 137 were absentee ballots. There were no provisional ballots cast.
Vying for the Democratic spot for mayor were James Vinall and Anthony (Tony) Gamble. In the end, Vinall pulled ahead with 171 votes with 54.99 percent to Gamble’s 140 votes of 45.02 percent. Both candidates received 32 absentee ballot votes.
Marshall County Democratic Party Chair Michelle Livinghouse congratulated both Vinall and Gamble after the results were announced at the Democratic Headquarters. Livinghouse said, “It only goes to show that the Democrats had two very good candidates.”
Vinall will face incumbent Mayor Mark Senter in the fall. Senter, representing the Republican Party, ran unopposed and received 311 votes.
The only other contested race was between Republicans Don Ecker, Jr. and Bill Watson for the City Council District 2 seat. Ecker received 69.32 percent of the 88 votes cast with 61 votes. Watson received 27 votes or 30.68 percent. At this time, there is no Democratic candidate for the seat. The Democratic Party does have the option to appoint a candidate at a later date for the general election in November.
Carol Anders Correspondent