Early Voting for May Primary Election Begins April 27

Early voting for the May 10 primary election begins at the Webster County Courthouse on Wednesday, April 27, 2016.

Three offices in particular in Webster County are being hotly contested, being the races for Sheriff and the two Magistrate positions.

Early voting at the Courthouse begins Wednesday, April 27.

Four candidates are seeking to be Webster County's new Sheriff after current Sheriff David Bender surprised many people by not seeking a second term (which he was virtually assured of winning had he decided to file).  The four candidates for Sheriff are David Cutlip, the chief of police for Webster Springs, David Morris, a former Webster County deputy sheriff, Johnny Sandy, and David Vandevender, a current Webster County deputy sheriff.

In the Magistrate race, former Webster County Commissioner and business owner Victor McClure is opposing incumbent Magistrate Richard Robertson.  Reports have it that at two meet the candidate forums, McClure and Robertson exchanged heated words over the issues of the County's $1.5 million jail bill and the Magistrates' work schedule.  The other incumbent Magistrate, John Stone, is being opposed by coal miner Ryan Bruffy and deputy county clerk Daniel Lehman.  Both Stone and Robertson were first elected in 2008 and then re-elected in 2012.

Early voting occurs at the County Clerk's office on the first floor of the Courthouse.  Voters have the option of a traditional paper ballot or an electronic voting machine.