Mize, Hall and Thomas win local races; County EMS question passes

Election night went just about as expected as Logan County saw three local races and one county question on a crowded ballot.

In the race for House Representative District 31, Republican Garry Mize collected 10,913 votes, or 70.82 percent, over his Democratic opponent Kara Sawyer. Related article: Election Results: Watch and discuss as the results come in

“I’m honored and humbled with the opportunity to serve the community I grew up in,” Mize told Guthrie News Page soon after the election.

“The last year has been extraordinary getting to know the many voices of District 31. I believe in our community and I want to thank each and every one of you. I’m excited and ready to represent you at the Capitol.”

Sawyer picked up 4,496 votes, or 29.18 percent.

Thank you everyone for all the support,” Sawyer said on a Facebook post. “This was an amazing race and I’m proud of the work our team did. We may not have won the election but we started good conversations. Now we have to hold our elected officials accountable.”

Mize takes the seat over after Jason Murphey was termed out with 12 years in office.

Chuck Hall (R-Perry) had an easy night with a convincing win over Heady Coleman.

The Perry banker collected 18,993 votes, or 70.07 percent compared to Coleman’s 8,111 votes (29.93 percent).

“I’m extremely thrilled in how Chuck Hall ran a clean race,” Coleman said in a text message to Guthrie News Page.

“I’m beyond proud of my district for coming out to vote in a major way. I’m honored that people voted for me and supported me. I smile knowing that I will continue to get to serve my community.”

Hall says the campaign process has been humbling.

“We’re very pleased with the outcome tonight, along with the love and support from all the different communities,” Hall said in a message to Guthrie News Page.

“This has been a very humbling experience that I do not take for granted. I plan to take a few days to enjoy the win with my family, and then it will be time to get to work for District 20. I would like to thank Heady Coleman for running an honorable campaign. He was always cordial to me and is a good man. I am confident we’ll continue our friendship. Also, I would like to thank Logan County, and its voters for the confidence and trust they have placed in me. Words cannot express my enthusiasm for what’s to come, and I look forward to the task at hand.“

It was a busy campaign for Laura Austin Thomas dating back to the Republican primary race to Tuesday night’s general election for Logan and Payne County District Attorney, but Thomas got a big push from Logan County to win re-election over Democrat candidate Cory Williams.

Thomas, from Stillwater, piled up 21,239 votes, or 55.79 percent compared to Williams’ 16,828 votes (44.21 percent).

Williams, also from Stillwater, won Payne County by 1,402 votes (11,956 – 10,554), but Thomas won big in Logan County with 5,813 more votes (10,685 – 4,872).

“Four years ago, the people of Logan county stood by me,” Thomas said in a text message to Guthrie News Page.

“Tonight they did it again, and pulled us through. I’m grateful for every single one of you. Logan County has always been a special place with faith filled, hard-working and honest people.”

With five state questions on the ballot, there was one county question for portions of Logan County.

The question was submitted to residents who live in Luther, Wellston, Perkins-Tryon, Coyle, Mulhall-Orlando and Covington-Douglas school districts that lay within in Logan County. The proposal will create an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) District within those school districts inside Logan County.

The measure passed easily with 1,082 yes votes compared to 301 votes (78.24 percent compared to 21.76 percent).

The responsibility of the new EMS board will be to either provide ambulance services to the stated areas or contact with a provider for ambulance services.

All results are unofficial until certified by the Logan County Election Board on Friday.