Jones sweeps Republican primary, will face Democrat Reeves in November By IRENE NOLAN

U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones easily dismissed his competition in the Republican primary for the Third Congressional District seat and will run for his 12th term in the U.S. House in November against Democrat Ernest T. Reeves.

Jones had two challengers in the race for the Republican nomination — Phil Law, a former Marine who worked as a computer technician for a Defense contractor, and Taylor Griffin, who worked for N.C. Sen. Jesse Helms and in the administration of President George W. Bush and then founded his own public policy consulting firm.

With all precincts in the 17 counties in the district reporting, Jones had 15,722 votes — 65 percent — to Griffin’s 4,929 votes, or 20 percent, and Law’s 3,599 or 15 percent.

In the Democratic primary, Ernest T. Reeves, a retired U.S. Army captain from Greenville, won the spot on the ballot in November by defeating David Allan Hurst of  Newport. Reeves racked up 6,402 votes — 55 percent — to Hurst’s 5,323 or 45 percent.

In Dare County, Jones dispatched his challengers with 80 percent of the vote to 13 percent for Griffin and 6 percent for Law.  In Hyde County, Jones managed only 67 percent of the vote, while Griffin scored 27 percent and Law only 5 percent.

In the Democratic race, Reeves won 60 percent of the vote in Dare County to Hurst’s 40 percent, while in Hyde, Hurst squeaked by with 50.3 percent of the vote to Reeves’ 49.7.

Meanwhile, in the non-partisan race that will determine which two candidates will face off in November for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court, incumbent Justice Robert H. Edmunds and challenger Michael R. Morgan were leading in a field of four candidates.

Late last night with 99.3 percent of  precincts reporting statewide, Edmunds had 48 percent  — 232,590 votes — and Morgan had 34  percent — 166,084.  

Sabra Jean Faires was trailing with 12 percent  — 58,180 votes — and bringing up the rear was Daniel Robertson with 6 percent or 27,007 votes.

Turnout was low in the election, as was expected, but was probably even lower because of the weather — heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Colin didn’t let up until early afternoon.

Six percent of registered Dare County voters went to the polls — 1,738 out of 28,542.  In Hyde County, the turnout was higher — 9.2 percent of registered voters or 317 of  a possible 3,436 voters turned out.

Statewide, just under 8 percent of registered voters cast their ballots in the Congressional primary.