BOLLINGER COUNTY ANTICIPATES LARGE TURNOUT NOV. 3

MARBLE HILL - Bollinger County Clerk Diane Holzum is expecting a record high voter turnout on election day. Holzum bases her prediction on the sharp increase in voter registrations the past two months.

"There's a lot of interest in the presidential and national elections, and at the state and county level," said Holzum. "Voter registration this year is up a lot from past years."

Because of state-wide redistricting, Bollinger County, which was in the 154th legislative district, is now part of the 156th district. That means incumbent 154th district representative, Democrat Joe Driskill of Doniphan, will face opposition from Republican Gaylord Harvey of Fairdealing, for the redistricted 156th district seat. The incumbent in the 156th district, Marilyn Taylor Williams of Dudley is now in the 159th district.

There are five contested races at the county level this year.

In the sheriff's race, the incumbent Republican, Dan Mesey, is running for a full four-year term against his Democratic challenger, Jerry Benfield. Mesey was elected in May 1991 to fill out the unexpired term of former sheriff, Januar Peters, who resigned earlier that year.

In the county commission races, incumbent Republican first district commissioner, Jerry Woodfin, is opposed by Democrat Bob Gray, while incumbent Democratic second district commissioner, Junior Cook, is challenged by Republican Donald Barks.

Incumbent Democratic county assessor, Sarah Anderson, is opposed by Republican James Bollinger.

There are 7,434 registered voters in Bollinger County. Holzum predicts at least 5,400 of them, or about 70-75 percent, will go to the polls on Nov. 3. She says a turnout of 60-62 percent is considered high for Bollinger County.