Incumbents Barry Jacobs and Earl McKee held onto their seats on the Board of County Commissioners, fending off strong challengers by wide margins in Tuesday’s primary election.

In the race for the at-large seat on the Board, Jacobs drew 10,680 votes, 68 percent of all ballots cast. Challenger Bonnie Hauser drew 4,974 votes, or about 32 percent.

The race between Hauser and Jacobs turned highly contentious, with both candidates challenging each other directly at debates and forums. Hauser outraised Jacobs by more than $3,000 and hoped to outpoll the incumbent in Orange County’s northern precincts; in the end, though, Jacobs drew more votes in every precinct but one, Efland.

In the race for the seat representing District 2, incumbent McKee also faced a strong primary challenger, Mark Marcoplos—but McKee too won easily, with 4,041 votes (or 60 percent) to 2,648 for Marcoplos.

In that race, though, there was a clear split between northern and southern Orange County: Marcoplos won all but one of the five precincts located south of Hillsborough, while McKee won all nine of the precincts located north of Hillsborough (as well as the Eno precinct, due east).

While Tuesday’s election was only the Democratic primary, neither Jacobs nor McKee will face a Republican opponent in the November election. The only contested County Commissioner race in November will be for the seat representing District 1, where Democrat Mia Burroughs will face Republican Gary Kahn.

Related Stories
‹
BOCC Candidates McKee, Marcoplos Meet In WCHL Forum: AUDIO
BOCC District 2 candidates Earl McKee and Mark Marcoplos are facing each other in the May 6 primary.
2016 Election: BOCC At-Large Candidates Talk Issues
Primary voting is under way for the 2016 election. Listen to the candidates for Orange County Commissioner.
2016 Election: Price, Hauser Vie For BOCC District 2
In the 2016 election for Orange County Commissioner, Renee Price and Bonnie Hauser are vying to represent District 2.
2016 Election: BOCC District 1 Candidates Square Off
Election 2016 is upon us! Wednesday, WCHL hosted all four candidates for District 1 of the Board of County Commissioners.
BoCC Candidates Talk Budgets And School Repairs
Budgeting and education are two of the top issues in the race for a District 1 seat on the Orange County Board of Commissioners.
Hauser, Jacobs Square Off In BOCC Candidate Forum: AUDIO
Bonnie Hauser and Barry Jacobs are the two candidates for the at-large seat on the BOCC. Listen to their debate here.
WCHL Announces BOCC Candidate Forums
WCHL hosts Bonnie Hauser and Barry Jacobs on Friday, April 25, and Earl McKee and Mark Marcoplos on Wednesday, April 30.
Orange, Chatham Counties Receive Expansion Funding from Great Trails State Program
Among the 37 trail development and restoration projects in the Piedmont region are trails in Orange and Chatham counties.
Orange County: Ongoing Flood Recovery Efforts + Uproar Festival Underway
Chair of the Orange County Commissioners Jamezetta Bedford joins 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell for an interview Wednesday, August 6.
Food Nonprofit TABLE to Grow Produce on Orange County Park Land Under New Agreement
Orange County has partnered with the local nonprofit TABLE in a three-year deal that will allow the nonprofit to use designated land for sustainable agriculture to address food insecurity.  The land is on the site of the future Twin Creeks Park on Old NC Highway 86. Twin Creeks Park was part of a […]
›