Published: November 05, 2008 01:01 am         

House District 46: Tincher pulls out win

TERRE HAUTE — The race between Democrat incumbent Rep. Vern Tincher and Republican challenger Bob Heaton for the Indiana House District 46 seat went down to the wire Tuesday night, with Tincher pulling out a win.

Final results in near midnight showed Tincher with 12,019 votes to Heaton’s 11,710.

Four percent of precincts had not yet returned results, leaving the Tincher and Heaton with 51 percent and 49 percent, respectively, as of 11:30 p.m.

Tincher, D-Riley, has served 22 of the past 26 years as the district representative, losing only in 1994 and 2002.

In a phone interview Tuesday night, Tincher said, “With partial returns in from Monroe County and complete returns in from Clay, Owen and Vigo counties, we have about a 300-vote margin that I think may increase a little bit, and we feel confident that we’re going to win the District 46 race.”

Republican challenger Heaton, 52, did not immediately return a call seeking comment late Tuesday.

District 46 covers half of Vigo and Clay counties and all of Owen County, except one township, as well as a township in Monroe County. Some cities and towns in the district include Riley, Brazil, Center Point, Clay City, Stinesville, Spencer and part of Terre Haute.

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