Candidates in place for competitive clerk, treasurer races

Whoever serves as the next Curry County treasurer will be a familiar face in the office, as primary voters picked a pair of candidates with time in the office.

After Tuesday's primaries had finished, former Chief Deputy Rachel Toney was elected for the Democratic nomination, while current Acting Treasurer Debbie Spriggs defeated Traci Harris for the Republican nomination.

In the county clerk's race, business owner Rosalie Riley won the Republican nomination, and will face Sherri McDaniel in the general election.

Spriggs and Toney both felt the upcoming general election would be a friendly but competitive race.

"I hired Debbie," Toney said. "If I wanted anybody to beat me, I'd want it to be Debbie."

• In the Democratic primary, Toney defeated Curry County Democratic Party treasurer Jonathan Wilson with 69 percent of the vote, taking 783 votes to Wilson's 352.

When asked what she believed was the deciding factor, Toney, currently a juvenile probation and parole administrator, said, "I believe it's experience; people want experience and credibility."

• Spriggs, who took over as acting treasurer in March when Bernice Baker resigned, claimed 73.5 percent of the vote, with 2,520 votes over banker Traci Harris' 910 votes.

Spriggs felt that 11 years in the treasurer's office was a boost to her campaign.

• Riley, who owns a floral shop in Clovis, took 53.6 percent of the vote, with 1,760 votes to 1,522 votes for Chief Deputy Clerk Beni Dampier.

Riley said years of being in Clovis helped, and she got a good feeling about a victory when she ran out of yard signs to give to friends and supporters.

"I attribute all of our citizens who got out and voted," Riley said. "I appreciate it, and I'll work hard for them (if elected)."

Sherri McDaniel ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and collected 969 votes.

The current clerk, Coni Jo Lyman, is retiring at the end of her term, and was term-limited.