Chad Lundquist/Nevada Appeal Storey County Sheriff Jim Miller celebrates his victory with a cigar at the Bucket of Blood Saloon in Virginia City on Tuesday night. Miller defeated challenger Stephen Bloyd 1,146 votes to 669 votes in the nonpartisan race.
The incumbents carried the day in Storey County law-enforcement races Tuesday with Sheriff Jim Miller and District Attorney Harold Swafford both receiving the nod from voters in the midterm elections.
Miller defeated challenger Stephen Bloyd 1,146 votes to 669 votes in the nonpartisan race.
"First and foremost, I'm glad this nonsense is over with. I'm happy with the result, and I'm going to continue to serve this community," Miller said.
Miller celebrated the final results by popping a bottle of champagne and lighting a cigar he'd been saving.
"This is for my father and the people of this community," Miller said. "I was the sheriff of Elko County, but now I'm home."
Miller was appointed to the position by the Storey County Commission in March 2005. He was picked to fill the spot left vacant by the resignation of Pat Whitten, who left the sheriff's department for a job as county administration and budget director.
Miller won by a larger margin than in the primary election, when the same two candidates faced off. Miller received 63 percent of the vote Tuesday and 58 percent in the primary.
The race for district attorney was much closer, with both candidates briefly holding the lead before incumbent Harold Swafford pulled out front by 75 votes. Swafford, the Democrat, received 962 votes to Republican challenger Anne Langer's 887.
"I think the citizens of Storey County won a big victory by electing me," Swafford said. "They realize I'm the right person for the job."
Swafford said he was going for a celebratory drink but said he was looking forward to getting back to work.
"We've got a lot of issues coming up that are not criminal related. We are looking at a lot of growth in the industrial areas that are going to require an attorney with significant experience," Swafford said.
Justice of the Peace Annette Daniels won re-election in an uncontested race. She received 1,569 votes.
• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.
Decision 06: Storey County unofficial final results
1,881 total votes; 69 percent of all registered voters
District Attorney
Harold Swafford - D 962; 52.03 percent
Anne Langer - R 887; 47.97 percent
Sheriff
Jim Miller 1,146; 63.14 percent
Stephen Bloyd 669; 36.86 percent
Assessor:
Kathy Weeks 1,608; 100 percent
Justice of the Peace
Annette Daniels 1,569; 100 percent
County Recorder/Auditor
Sarah Jensen 1,590; 100 percent
School Board, Seat 2A:
Deny Dotson 1,471; 100 percent
School Board, Seat 2B
Pamela J. Smith 1,465; 100 percent
Canyon GID
all candidates unopposed
Marvin Clark 255; 24.43 percent
Edna Cudworth 256; 24.52 percent
Ed Gilbert 272; 26.05 percent
Bret Tyler 261; 25 percent
Industrial GID
all candidates unopposed
David Blackford 2; 100 percent
Debbie Blackford 2; 100 percent