Buzard and Payne to vie for District 5 commission seat

Democrat Rodney Payne and Republican Kendell Ray Buzard won their primary elections Tuesday for the Roosevelt County Commission District 5 seat.

They will face each other in the November general election.

Incumbent Paul Grider could not run for re-election because he reached his two-term limit.

Buzard received about 37 percent of the votes in a race with a 48-vote span between first- and fourth-place candidates.

Lori Bohm brought in 25 percent of the votes, while just more than 19 percent of voters supported Allen Deen and just less than 19 percent favored Larry Jewell.

“I knew it was going to be a pretty close race, and I’m glad it stayed in the community,” said Deen, also a Floyd resident.

Deen said he and Buzard are friends, and he thought either Buzard or Payne would do a good job if elected in November.

Bohm said it was a good race and congratulated Buzard on his win.

“I think he’ll do a great job,” she said.

Buzard and Jewell could not be reached for comment.

In the Democrat race, Payne took about 42 percent of the votes, Duane Lee had approximately 38 percent and Dobbs received almost 20 percent. There was a 25-vote different between Payne and Dobbs.

“I’m just very excited and very grateful to those who supported me in the selection, in the primary,” Payne said.

He said it was good to come out on top in a close race, and he was looking forward to the general election.

Lee said it was a very close race for both Democrats and Republicans. He hoped Payne would do well and get Republicans votes in the general election, Lee said.

Dobbs said he had no comment.