(Cushing, Okla) – Cushing area voters have returned two incumbents to office for additional three year terms, while school voters turned down a 41. 5 million dollar school bond issue.
Evert Rossiter, currently the chairman of the Cushing Board of Commissioners was re-elected to his third term as a member, defeating James Pickard with about sixty per cent of the vote.
Joe R. Manning Jr. who is also a veteran of the Commission and former Chairman was also re-elected with nearly seventy per cent of the total over challenger James B. Ree.
Meanwhile, the proposed 41.5 million dollar school bond issue failed, getting a slight majority, but not nearly enough for the sixty per cent super-majority required for passage.
The County Commission seat vacated by the death of longtime commissioner Bill Deering will continue to be filled by a Republican, as Zach Cavett defeated Noel Bagwell. Bagwell had won the Democratic Primary over Bobby Farley to advance to the special election. Cavett received about 57 per cent of the vote.
In an interview with KUSH, Rossiter thanked Cushing Voters. Rossiter pointed out that the city relies on sales tax revenues and utility revenues to fund city operations, and that the city has been able to make infrastructure improvements without a tax increase.
“The Schools, the county, the state get the ad valorem revenues, we’ve had to rely on sales taxes.”
Rossiter also said that Commissioners listened when people told them the city needed a new motel. “People would ask, when are we going to get a new motel? Well, now we have two new motels.”
Results remain unofficial until certified by Payne County Election Board.
Cushing School Bond Issue
Yes…..705…..50.5 per cent
No……691……49.5 per cent
Cushing City Commission
Evert Rossiter……628
James Pickard…..405
Joe R. Manning Jr……705
James B. Ree…………334
Payne County Commission District 1
(D) Noel Bagwell…..1021
(R) Zach Cavett…….1356
****
