Election Results – Primaries and Other Races

The election results for August 14, 2012 are almost completely in. For West Boca, perhaps the biggest race – and maybe the closest – was the GOP primary for State Senate district 25. With 99% of precincts reporting it looks like Melanie Peterson won with just short of 51% (8270 votes) over Geoff Sommers with just over 49% (8018). Credit to Ms. Peterson, who showed more substance in the face of heavy spending by Sommers and a barrage of attack mail. She moves on to the November election against Democrat Joseph Abruzzo.
In another State Senate GOP primary on the edge of West Boca, establishment figure Ellyn Bogdanoff handily defeated Tea Party favorite Mike Lameyer.
On the Democratic side, Kevin Rader defeated Steve Perman for the State Representative seat for district 81, which includes West Boca. He faces Republican James Ryan O’Hara in the November election.
For our County Commission race (Seat number 5), Mary Lou Berger firmly won a 3-way primary, getting over 60% of the vote. She will be on the ballot against Republican Paul Tocker in a few months.
–For Full County results see: Palm Beach County August 2012 election results.
In the US Senate primaries, Connie Mack won the GOP nomination and Bill Nelson won on the Democratic side. Voters can choose between them in the general election.
In the non-partisan judge races, Circuit Judge Timothy McCarthy won with over 60% of the vote against Jody Lane. Ron Alvarez appears to have held his judgeship against Jaimie Goodman, but it’s a close one and not all the votes have been counted. James Martz defeated Margherita Downey and County Judges Peter Evans held his position and Edward Garrison becomes a judge again at the County Court level in a contest for an open seat.
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and Appraiser Gary Nikolits won overwhelmingly with nearly 80% and just over 70%, respectively, of the vote.
Sharon Bock easily held onto her position as Circuit Clerk and Susan Bucher did the same as Supervisor of Elections.