From our November 9, 2000, edition.

Blackburn defeats Holden, 1305 to 386 

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The voters of Donley County decisively chose Charles “Butch” Blackburn, Jr., to be their next sheriff when they cast ballots in the 2000 General Election Tuesday.

Capturing more than 77 percent of the vote, Blackburn, a Democrat, easily defeated his Republican challenger, William A. “Bill” Holden, by a margin of 1,305 to 386.

“I’m tickled to have it,” Sheriff-elect Blackburn said. “There is no way I could have done it without all the good support. I feel like I won and my supporters won. All I can say is ‘thank you.’

“I’d like to assure the public that I’ll do the job to the best of my abilities,” he said.

The campaign to be the successor of long-time sheriff William J. Thompson was a competitive one that was fought out by supporters on each side in the letters column of this newspaper. In the end, Holden had kind words for Blackburn.

“First of all, I want to congratulate Butch as our new sheriff,” Holden said. “He has my support, and I’ll help him in any way I can.

“I’d like to thank all of my supporters and ask that they now support Butch. It’s obvious that a large number of voters want change. I hope we can all work together for the best of Donley County.”

In other local races, incumbent Wilma Lindley fended off a challenge from Republican Wanda Smith to be the County Tax Assessor/Collector, 1,005 to 697. Precinct 1 County Commissioner Randy White was defeated by Democrat Ernest Johnston, 224 to 308; and Precinct 3 County Commissioner Andy Wheatly lost to Democrat Henry C. “Buster” Shields, 130 to 276.

Mike Wallendorff ran unopposed for the Constable position in Precincts 3&4 and received 480 votes.

Write-in candidate Jimmy Swinney won his bid to be the Constable in Precincts 1&2. He received 52 votes and will assume an office that has been vacant for about 30 years.

More than 77 percent of local voters preferred Gov. George W. Bush to be the next president. Less than 21 percent wanted to promote Vice President Al Gore to the presidency.

US Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) won Donley County, 1,466 to 224, over Democratic challenger Curtis Clinesmith. At press time, reports had Thornberry leading his opponent to win a fourth term.

Donley County also voted by a wide margin in favor of Stuart Messer to be the next 100th District Attorney. The Republican County Attorney Pro-tem beat the incumbent Democrat, Randall Sims, by a local margin of 1,143 to 513. District wide results were not available at press time, but reports had Messer leading.

A total of 1,759 county voters cast ballots in the 2000 election - a more than 67 percent turnout. 684 early ballots were cast. Complete local results are printed on page 10.