Mayor Cates wins reelection

Slaton out of judicial runoff

 

BY MARK HOWELL

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

 

The results are in for a Primary election that this year drew a meager 30 percent of eligible voters.

Incumbent Craig Cates handily won a three-way race for mayor of Key West with 2,677 votes (53.15 percent) over Margaret Romero with 2,200 votes (43.66 percent) and Sloan Bashinsky with 162 votes (3.21 percent).

“I have the best supporters and best friends in the world,” declared Cates to Konk Life at the traditional post-election assembly at the Harvey Government Center hosted by Bill Becker, accompanied Tuesday night by Ron Saunders. To his competitor Margaret Romero, who carried just one precinct, in Bahama Village, the mayor said, “You ran a good race, I respect you. I hope we can work together in the future.” Bashinsky told the public, “I hope I don’t have to run again.”

The incumbent county commissioner for District 2, George Neugent defeated his rival, Danny Coll, by 58.12 percent of the vote over 41.88 percent. In the Nov. 4 General Election, Republican Neugent will face Democrat Eleanor McAdams.

In the three-way race for Circuit Judge, 16th Judicial Circuit, Group 4, the controversial incumbent Tegan Slaton, with just 23.07 percent of the vote, lost to Bonnie J. Helms with 46.26 percent and runner-up Jack Bridges with 30.67 percent. Helms and Bridges will meet in a runoff at the Nov. 4 General Election.

Judge Mark Jones kept his seat as circuit judge, 16th Judicial Circuit, Group 1, with 63.93 percent of the vote over challenger Donald Barrett’s 36.07 percent.

In the school board races, no runoff will be necessary in November. A clear winner appeared in each: Incumbent Ron Martin with 56.35 percent of the vote against challengers Richard Bradley with 22.51 percent and Dennis Caltagirone with 21.14 percent; and incumbent John R. Dick with 51.25 percent of the vote against Catherine Bosworth with 48.75 percent. Bobby Highsmith secured 56.98 percent of the vote against Stu Kessler’s 27.3 percent and Warren Leamard with 15.72 percent.

 

 

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