Staff reports

Democrats may have swept most of the top state offices, but not all had help from Garfield County voters.

Garfield County voted contrary to the state in general in the lieutenant governor, state auditor and inspector, la-bor commissioner and insurance commissioner races.

In the lieutenant governor race, Republican Todd Hiett carried the county with 9,073 votes to Democrat Jari Askins’ 6,659. Independent E.Z. Million got 389 votes.

Republican Gary Jones bested incumbent Democrat Jeff McMahan in Garfield County, 9,413 votes to 6,479, in the auditor contest. Ousted Labor Commissioner Brenda Reneau also carried Garfield County, 9,644 to Lloyd Fields’ 6,262. In the insurance commissioner race, Republi-can Bill Case carried Garfield County 9,330 to incumbent and winner Kim Holland’s 6,584.

Garfield County went along with the statewide vote in the corporation commission race, selecting Republi-can incumbent Bob Anthony over Democrat challenger Cody Graves 11,488 to 4,513.

Democrat Gov. Brad Hen-ry won all precincts in Gar-field County over Republican Ernest Istook. Hiett swept all precincts but three in his bid against Askins in the lieutenant governor race.

In the top state races, the closest race in Garfield Coun-ty was between Democrat Scott Meacham and Republi-can Howard Barnett for state treasurer. Meacham beat Bar-nett by only 441 votes in the county.

In local races, all precincts voted in favor of the winner, John T. Enns, Republican, in his race with Carol Ruth, Democrat, for House District 41. In District 40, incumbent Republican Mike Jackson carried all precincts over Democrat Pierce Jones.

Incumbent Judge Dennis Hladik also carried every pre-cinct in Garfield County over challenger John G. Camp.

Garfield County overwhelmingly voted for 3rd Congressional District Rep. Frank Lucas, Republican, over Sue Barton, Democrat.

Garfield County voters also approved all four state questions. The largest yes vote in Garfield County was for State Question 724, with 13,936 yes votes to 1,704 no votes.

This measure was called in the wake of former Enid Rep. Mike O’Neal’s conviction and subsequent jail time on a charge of outraging public decency while serving in the Legislature. The measure means from now on legislators must pay back any legislative salary they receive while in jail or prison.