In unofficial results from all but three towns in Sullivan County, District 1 incumbent County Commissioner Jeff Barrette defeated his primary opponent, Jeremy Herrell, of Claremont, in Tuesday’s election by nearly 500 votes, 1,248 to 751.
Barrette, a lifelong Democrat, had to run as a Republican because he failed to re-register after voting Republican in the 2016 presidential primary.
He possibly will appear on the November ballot as a Democrat because he received 42 write-in votes in Claremont on the Democratic primary ballot.
But that is only if Ray Gagnon, who received 101 write-in votes in Claremont, declines to run.
Gagnon, a Democratic state representative, did not seek re-election for his Sullivan 5 House seat representing the city’s Ward 3 but instead won an uncontested primary for Sullivan County Register of Probate.
He also launched a successful last minute write-in campaign for the Democratic nomination for Barrette’s commissioner seat, but only to ensure a Democrat would appear on the ballot in case Barrette lost the Republican primary.
With Barrette’s victory, Gagnon said he would withdraw his name from the general election.
“I was asking voters to vote for county over party and as a Democrat, I should do the same thing,” Gagnon said, explaining why he will not run for the commissioner’s position. “And Jeff has done a good job for the county. I say, let’s do what is best for the county.”
Barrette’s seat represents Claremont and Cornish on the three-member commission, but voters in all 13 county communities cast ballots for the commissioner positions.
