Published: November 04, 2008 11:38 pm         

Mansard wins another term as Vigo County clerk

Democrat Patricia “Pat” Mansard has won another term as Vigo County clerk.

Mansard, who has served as county clerk for 20 years, was busily working Tuesday night to finish up election results, but she took a minute to savor her win.

According to unofficial results from the Vigo County Election Division, with 27,810 votes, or 67 percent, Mansard defeated Republican challenger Bill Treadway, who earned 13,737 votes (33 percent).

“I did not really have time to campaign,” Mansard said from the election returns office at the Vigo County Courthouse. “This work is all-consuming and this is normally the largest election we have in the four-year cycle.”

“My work here had to come first,” she added. “I just decided that my work and my life would have to stand as my campaign.”

“I’ve been here for quite a long time doing this very demanding job,” Mansard said. “It’s gratifying to know even without much of a campaign people know me and trust me to continue.”

“I’ll keep working hard to continue to earn their support,” she said.

Treadway, who was watching election returns with other Republicans at 8th District Congressional candidate Greg Goode’s Republican headquarters in Terre Haute, said, “First of all I want to congratulate my opponent … we were facing a tough incumbent who’s done a good job.”

He added, “My race was like a lot of others in Vigo County: we got kind of swept over by this wave of Obama supporters and new voters.

Treadway, chairman of the Republican Party in Vigo County, said, “We had a good field of candidates this year – we just ran ’em at the wrong time. We were just overwhelmed.”

Treadway said, “We’re very proud of all of our candidates; we’re happy that Gov. Mitch Daniels won.

“We’ll put a smile on our face and go back to work tomorrow,” he said.

Deb Kelly can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or deb.kelly@tribstar.com.