Independent wins

Randal "Doc" Wendling successfully earned a seat with the Sweetwater County Commissioners last night, securing more than 5,000 votes cast in the election.

The independent candidate's victory resulted in Democrat Gary Bailiff being edged out of the board of county commissioners, According to unofficial election results from the Sweetwater County Clerk's Office, Wending and Republican incumbent John Kolb were separated by 49 votes. Kolb earned the most votes with 5,183 while Wendling earned 5,134 votes.

A very tight race developed between the two incumbent Democrats, Bailiff and Reid West as a r...