Tester Crushes Morrison, Ballot Questions Win in Missoula County Vote

By Brenna Moore, 6-06-06

State Senate President Jon Tester scored a remarkable 76 percent of the vote among Missoula County voters in the Democratic Senate primary, versus just 22 percent for State Auditor John Morrison - numbers that have a lot to do with what looks like a Tester victory.

Tester said to a crowd amassed at the Holiday Inn Parkside "I just want to thank the folks of Missoula a lot. They've been really great from the get-go."

Missoula voters also handily approved three ballot questions that will impose new mill levys for search and resecure, libraries, and elder care in the county.

In other results, incumbent Justice of the Peace Karen Orzech easily won a non-partisan primary, and Sheriff Mike McMeekin beat back several Democratic primary challengers.

Final, unofficial Missoula vote tallies:


In local races:

Sherriff/Coroner, Democratic ballot
David A. Fowlkes, 2,107 votes, 16 percent
Bradley Scott Giffin, 4,464 votes, 34 percent
Mike McMeekin, 6,505 votes, 49 percent
Winner will face Republican Don Morman in November.

In local non-partisan races:

District Court Judge:
John J. Bulger, 2,166 votes, 11 percent
Robert "Dusty" Deschamps, 8,215 votes, 43 percent
Brenda C. Desmond, 1,480 votes, 8 percent
Cynthia K. Smith, 1,945 votes, 10 percent
Karen S. Townsend, 5,487 votes, 28 percent

Justice of the Peace:
Casey Gunter, 5,229 votes, 30 percent
Karen Z. Orzech, 12,438 votes, 70 percent

For county levies:

Search and Rescue Levy:
For Levy, 14,490 votes, 75 percent
Against Levy, 4,947, 25 percent

Elder Services Levy:
For Levy, 14,838 votes, 77 percent
Against Levy, 4,530 , 23 percent

Library Mill Levy:
For Levy, 11,670 votes, 60 percent
Against Levy, 7,715, 39 percent




In Uncontested races: (Meaning these folks will automatically face each
other in November or win unchallenged)

State Senate:
District 48: Carolyn Squires (D) vs. Monique Cratty ( R)
District 49: David Wanzenried (D) vs. Rusty Vanoverbeck ( R)

State House of Representatives:
District 14: Frank E. Stanley (D) vs. Gordon R. Hendrick ( R)
District 15: Joey Jayne (D) (uncontested)
District 91: Kevin Furey (D) vs. Tom Opre ( R)
District 92: Robin Hamilton (D) vs. Walt Hill ( R)
District 93: Ron Erickson (D) vs. Denise Moore ( R)
District 94: Dave McAlpin (D) vs. Phil Barney ( R)
District 95: Diane Sands (D) vs. Kevin Blacker ( R)
District 98: Holly Raser (D) vs. Will Deschamps ( R)
District 99: Betsy Hands (D) vs. Matt Lee ( R)

Supreme Court Justice No. 1:
Jim Rice, 14,892 votes, 99 percent (no challenger)

Supreme Court Justice No. 2:
John Warner, 14,657 votes, 99 percent (no challenger)

District Court Judge: (Department 1)
Ed McLean, 15,690 votes, 99 percent (no challenger)

District Court Judge (Department 3)
John W. Larson, 15,270 votes, 99 percent (no challenger)

Justice of the Peace:
John E. Odlin, 15,123 votes, 99 percent (no challenger)

[End of article]