West vs. East: Voting reflects political views of county's populations

Statistics show where candidates fared well BY AMY HOLLON • Advocate Reporter • November 9, 2008 NEWARK -- A clear east-west divide again became apparent during Tuesday's election in Licking County. Although Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain won every township in the county, Republican leanings were even more evident in the western half of the county than the eastern half. More than 68 percent of residents of Hartford, Monroe, Jersey, Bennington, Liberty and St. Albans townships -- all in the northwest portion of the county -- voted for McCain. In the county's other townships, McCain received between 57 and 65 percent of the vote. But the divide is not unusual. Licking County Democratic Party Chairman Mike King said much of the divide can be explained by Republicans who have left Columbus suburbs within the... [read full story]