From Staff Reports

George W. Bush was the clear winner in Shelby County last night.

And Judge Patti Smith can now be called Supreme Court Justice Patti Smith as far as county residents are concerned.

With 43 of the county’s 66 precincts reporting at presstime, Smith had received 83 percent of the vote, or 35,575 votes, to her challenger Roger Monroe’s 18 percent, or 7,398 votes.

Statewide, Smith had received 60 percent of the vote at presstime while Monroe was trailing with only 40 percent (with 75 percent of the precincts reporting).

Smith was joined Tuesday night by her family and friends at Heardmont Park for a celebration.

&uot;I’m thrilled to death,&uot; she said as final numbers were still coming in. &uot;Campaigning was tiring but a lot of fun. The bus tour, especially, was so much fun for my family.&uot;

Smith and her numerous brothers and sisters traveled across the state on a bus tour last week.

&uot;My family is so excited. They’ve been so supportive,&uot; she said.

County residents came out to the polls in droves for both Smith and President George W. Bush.

Shelby County, always a Republican stronghold, aided in pushing the state to

be called a Bush &uot;red&uot; state soon after 7 p.m. with its more than 35,000 votes (at presstime).

In Shelby County, with 43 of 66 precincts counted, Bush received some 80 percent of the vote to John Kerry’s 19 percent. Independents Michael Badnarik, Ralph Nader and Michael Peroutka received just three quarters of a percentage point.

Statewide, Bush had garnered 61 percent of the vote to Kerry’s 38 at presstime.

Local Races

With 65 percent of the precincts reporting at presstime, Republican incumbent Judge Dan Reeves retained his seat on the bench. Reeves faced off against Democratic challenger Donna Beaulieu for Circuit Court Judge, Place 4.

Reeves received 77 percent of the vote, or 32,321 votes, to Beaulieu’s 23 percent, or 9,743 votes.

Reeves expressed his appreciation.

&uot;The good Lord who we owe all things to … the good folks who campaigned for me, my father, Hubert Reeves, Danny Crowson Jr., and obviously, my wife who is my best campaigner, Stephanie,&uot; Reeves said.

&uot;I appreciate the voters expressing their confidence in my again and I look forward to serving them another six years. It’s something I thank God for the ability to wake up every morning and do.&uot;

Incumbent District Attorney Robby Owens won another term with 34,265 votes, or 81 percent (43 of 66 precincts at presstime).

Challenger C. Brian Davidson, a Democrat, received 7,786 votes, or 19 percent.

The only contested Shelby County

Commission race was won decisively by incumbent Billy Thompson.

With 12 of 14 precincts reporting, Thompson had received 75 percent of the vote, or 4,930 votes, to Democrat Jimmy Carter’s 1,647 votes, or 25 percent.

Thompson was pleased with the outcome of the vote and excited to be working with the other eight commissioners for another four years.

&uot;We work as a team; we all worked good together. This is what we wanted is to stay together,&uot; he said.

&uot;Roads, water are objectives, but there are so many things,&uot; he said, looking to the future.

The abnormally large number of absentee ballots were still being counted at presstime. Several of the larger North Shelby County precincts had not been counted as well