News and Tribune

Election 2012

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
November 6, 2012

Vissing, Popp, Khuri elected to Clark County Council

Two new members join only incumbent on the ballot

By MATT KOESTERS matt.koesters@newsandtribune.com

CLARK COUNTY — There will be two new members on the next Clark County Council, but the party composition of the council will remain the same.

Democrat Susan Popp will join incumbent Democrat Kevin Vissing on the county council. Popp led all vote-getters in the race with 22,539 votes, or 18.5 percent, while Vissing was second in the race with 21,046 votes, or 17.3 percent. Popp will fill the void left behind by departing Councilman Perry Smith.

“This has been a tough environment with all that’s going on, from the president’s race on down,” Vissing said. “I feel good about this, because it just shows that I have a lot of common sense. I feel I can make my decisions on the county council, and I think people realize that.”

Vissing will serve his second term on the county council, as will Susan Popp. Popp served her first term between 1997-2000.

“I was obviously very glad to be elected by the people of Clark County,” Popp said. “... It was wonderful news.”

Vissing said he was excited about the prospect of working with Popp on the council.

“Susan will be very good on there,” Vissing said. “She has some experience already from being on there prior to this. I feel good about her being on there with me.”

Republican Kelly Khuri will replace Councilman Chuck Moore, who declined to run for re-election. Khuri earned 20,724 votes, or 17 percent.

“I’m disappointed my other fellow [Republican] councilman candidates didn’t get in, but I’m ready to go Day 1,” Khuri said.

Republicans Ronald Brogan and Ryan Lynch fell short of election. Brogan won 18,960 votes, or 15.6 percent, while Lynch earned 19,393 votes, 15.9 percent. Democrat Brenda Ross fell short in the race with 19,141 votes, or 15.7 percent.

Khuri, a Clark County Tea Party leader who has been attending county government meetings for several years, said her election to the council is just the continuation of her work as a guardian of tax dollars.

“Day 1 began several years ago when I first started attending the meetings,” Khuri said. “It’s just a continuation of delving into the needs of the county and being ready to look to see where we can best serve the citizens with the monies that we’re given and the departments are given.”

Vissing said his top priority will be to continue to press the state into restoring Clark County’s maximum levy to pre-2007 levels. Popp plans to meet with her future co-council members to establish working relationships and find opportunities for savings.

“I would like to, before the new year, sit down and talk individually with the current members that are on the council and who will be there when I get there in January, just because I think it’s important develop relationships and get to know the people I will be serving the county with,” she said.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Election 2012