Phillips, Moss win re-election to state House

Two local Democrat incumbents were successful Tuesday in their bids for re-election to the State House of Representatives.

In the District 30 race, Rep. Olin Phillips got 55 percent of the vote to win re-election to his 17th term, beating Republican challenger Bobby Beattie, 6,359-5,266.

For Dennis Moss, this will be his second term after defeating Danny Stacy, 6,950-6,080, for the District 29 seat, which encompasses parts of Cherokee, Chester and York counties.

Both races were rematches of 2006.

Moss, a former state Highway Patrolman, carried Cherokee County, 3,588-2,438. That's about 800 more votes here than in 2006. He also won Chester County, 1,060- 826. Stacy, who owns a local longhaul trucking company, captured York County, 2,816-2,302.

Stacy lost two years ago by 61 votes out of 9,100 cast.

"I feel confident the people in District 29 are happy with my representation," Moss said. "And I appreciate they will let me serve for two more years."

Moss said his top priority this legislative session is funding education. He sponsored a bill that would require at least 65 percent of the education budget to be directed for use in classroom instruction.

Phillips said the lawmakers top priority will be to solve the state's current budget crisis.

"We will try to maintain as much funding for education as we can," he said.

Both legislators thanked their families and supporters.

In the race for president, county voters went for Republican John McCain in a big way. The Arizona senator received 13,266 votes to president elect Barack Obama's 7,191.