Roberts, Mortensen leading in Commission races in Lyon

Lyon County Planning Commissioner Chuck Roberts was leading former County Manager Donna Kristaponis at press time.

At 10 p.m., Roberts had 8,505 votes or 51.03 percent to Kristponis' 8,162 or 48.97 percent with only partial results available.

Kristaponis had hoped to take the seat of former Commissioner Bob Milz, who along with Phyllis Hunewill and Don Tibbals fired her in February 2007. Milz is retiring at the end of his term.

Kristaponis said she expected it to be a long night.

"I only know of about 10,000 votes that have been counted and I don't know what that represents," she said. "It's really too early to know."

Roberts could not be reached for comment.

For the District IV Commission seat held by LeRoy Goodman, who is also retiring, Fernley City Councilman Joe Mortensen is leading businesswoman Sherry Parsons.

With only partial returns in, Mortensen received 8,184 votes, or 51.29 percent, while Parsons collected 7,772 votes, or 48.71 percent.

Mortensen said he was encouraged, but not ready to claim victory.

"I always worry about that kind of thing," he said. "I'll wait until we have a final count."

He thanked all those who voted for him and his mother and uncle for offering financial contributions.

"They were the only cash support that I accepted so I wouldn't be in a position to be beholden to anyone," he said.

Parsons could not be reached for comment.

Turnout was high all over the county, with an early voting turnout of 10,485, or 39.69 percent.

At Dayton High School, poll worker team leader Leslie Sexton said 205 people were lined up by 6:15 a.m., and the early voters were done by 7:30 p.m. She said there were a lot of young voters and many of them had never voted before.

Poll worker Judy Migan said they have been busy all day.

"We had so many early voters that I thought we wouldn't be, but we are," she said.

In Silver City, turnout was extremely high, 134 people voted by 6 p.m. " 91 percent of the precinct's 145 registered voters. Poll worker Sheree Rose said they might have hit 100 percent, except one of their residents went to jail recently.

- Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com