Harney County Judge Steve Grasty on Tuesday beat a recall aimed at politically punishing him for standing up to occupation leader Ammon Bundy.

Unofficial final returns from Harney County Clerk Derrin "Dag" Robinson Tuesday night showed the recall failed 70 percent to 30 percent.

It was the second time in two months Harney County voters stood by elected officials who criticized Bundy's takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in January. County commissioner Pete Runnels was elected from a field of four to succeed Grasty.

Grasty, a former auto parts store owner, has been county judge since 1999. He chairs the three-person county commission and performs limited judicial duties in a nonpartisan role. His third term ends in January.

"I have to believe this wasn't just about Steve Grasty," the judge said after results were announced in Burns. He said the vote reflected circumstances of dealing with the refuge occupation.

"I think it's an affirmation that we did a lot of things right, and I mean the community when I say 'we,' " Grasty said.

He said the vote showed the community wasn't as deeply divided as some suggested. He said his job going forward will be to find ways to bring the community even closer.

Kim Rollins, a Burns general contractor who was the chief petitioner for the recall, declined comment.

The petition forcing Tuesday's election was triggered by Grasty's decision to bar Bundy, an Idaho businessman and son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, from using a county fairgrounds building for a meeting. The petition said Grasty violated citizens' right to assembly and freedom of speech.

Grasty blocked the fairgrounds use after armed militia appeared with Bundy at other community meetings in Burns.

At those meetings and in public statements, Grasty had been blunt in telling Bundy to abandon the refuge and go home.

Bundy and his crew took over refuge headquarters buildings situated about 30 miles southeast of Burns on Jan. 2. The buildings were empty because of the holiday and the precautionary evacuation of employees.

The occupation began to unravel Jan. 26 when Bundy and others were stopped while they were on their way to John Day for a community meeting. Robert "LaVoy" Finicum of Arizona was shot and killed by Oregon State Police troopers as he attempted to evade a road block.

The last of four holdouts surrendered about two weeks later, bringing an end to the 41-day occupation.

Voters in Harney County are likely to again face the ghost of the occupation in the general election. Sheriff David Ward, who was appointed to replace the retiring sheriff in January 2015, is seeking his first election to the spot. He has been declared a hero by some for his handling of the occupation, but he also has received death threats and sharp criticism.

He is being challenged by Alan Johnson, a retired state trooper from Burns. Johnson said Tuesday it "may happen" that the election is a referendum on Ward's performance during the occupation.

He said he decided two years ago to seek the office and that he wasn't targeting Ward. He also said published reports were wrong that he is being supported by the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. Its founder, Richard Mack, a former Arizona sheriff, has been a Bundy supporter.

"I don't want his endorsement," Johnson said.

He also said he voted against Grasty's recall.

Up the road in Grant County, voters may soon face a recall election partly tied to the occupation. Petitioners Monday submitted signatures to force a recall of Boyd Britton, a John Day welding company owner and part-time commissioner.

The recall petition accuses Britton of "deliberately misrepresenting" his intentions of attending the Jan. 26 community meeting where Bundy was headed when arrested. The petition also accuses Britton of violating a county road ordinance and opposing a county investigation into a wildfire last summer near John Day that destroyed 43 homes.

One of the petition promoters is local real estate agent Jim Sproul. He was among a handful of citizens who met in John Day with occupation leaders 10 days after they took over the refuge.

Grant County Clerk Brenda Percy said petitioners submitted 567 signatures. They needed 490 to make the ballot. If she certifies enough valid signatures, Britton will have five days to resign or submit a response for the ballot. Percy said a recall vote would happen by Aug. 16.

-- Les Zaitz

@leszaitz