Published: May 14, 2008 02:28 am      

Carpenter, Knight to compete for sheriff

After each prevailed in three-man primary races

FAIRMONT — With a 525-vote lead over runner-up Donnie Leonard, Monongah Police Chief Joe Carpenter claimed victory Tuesday night in the Democratic primary for Marion County sheriff.

Meanwhile, the race for the Republican nominee was much tighter. W.L. “Fuzzy” Knight had a 15-vote lead over Tom Bowman, according to unofficial results.

Carpenter, 42, of Rivesville resigned as a sheriff’s deputy in August 2006 to mount a grass-roots drive for the office.

“We said from Day One two years ago we were going to run a clean campaign,” he said.

“I know Donnie and Randy Proctor both, and I respect them both,” Carpenter said, praising the other two Democrats in the race.

“It was a clean race” among the trio, he said.

Carpenter won 5,054 votes (36.5 percent) to Leonard’s 4,529 (32.7 percent) and Proctor’s 4,263 (30.79 percent), according to unofficial results.

Reached at his Worthington home by telephone, Leonard said he wants to thank everybody who supported him.

“I felt sorry for everybody who worked so hard for me,” he said. He also congratulated Carpenter.

Proctor could not be reached for comment.

A 1983 graduate of Rivesville High School, Carpenter has 15 years of law enforcement experience. He served two years in the U.S. Marine Corps, from 1985 to 1986.

When he left the sheriff’s department in 2006 — Civil Service law prohibits deputies from seeking elective offices — he said he wanted to combat illegal drugs and crimes caused by drug suppliers and users.

Carpenter said he wants to start a “street crime unit” to work with the local and regional drug task forces.

Knight said late Tuesday night he believes his lead will hold up. He won 946 votes (38.75 percent) to Bowman’s 931 votes (38.1 percent).

Knight, 54, has been employed at Novelis (Alcan Aluminum) since 1978. He is the plant’s heavy-equipment mechanic. He said he is “revved up now” for the general election on Nov. 4.

Bowman could not be reached for comment.

Gary Piccalo finished third in the GOP primary with 564 votes (23.1 percent). He also thanked his supporters.

E-mail Bill Byrd at bbyrd@timeswv.com.