Newport voters will go to the polls Tuesday and find a race that really isn't a race. And if they cast a ballot in that race, it won't be counted.
It's the city commission race; and Campbell County Clerk Jim Luersen said there is a good reason for not counting the votes.
Incumbent commissioner John Hayden decided in January that he would not run for re-election, but did not file paperwork with the clerk's office in time to have his name removed from the ballot, Luersen said.
"He'll be listed on the ballot as the ninth candidate, but he's withdrawn his candidacy,'' Luersen said. "Only eight candidates can advance to the November election, so there really is no primary election."
Four of the eight will be elected to Newport city commission in the November election.
Luersen said signs will be posted in each Newport polling place saying that any ballots cast in the commission race tomorrow won't be counted.
The eight candidates who will compete in November are incumbents Thomas Guidugli, Frank Peluso, and Beth Fennell, along with challengers Matthew Cline, Nichole Hornback Hayden (the wife of John Hayden), Bob McCray, Rachel Comte and former Campbell County commissioner Ken Rechtin.
