(Update: 9 p.m.)
Allen Countians overwhelmingly supported a .25% sales tax to support ongoing operations at Allen County Regional Hospital.
In unofficial results posted Tuesday evening, voters approved the sales tax, which is an extension of an expiring quarter-cent sales tax, at a nearly 3-1 clip (1,297-448).
The other contested races were considerably tighter.
John Masterson was the top vote-getter in a five-way race for three USD 257 school board seats, receiving 727 votes. Lisa Wicoff also apparently secured a seat, receiving 559 votes. John Wilson was third with 555 votes. Nathan Cunningham finished just out of the running with 533 votes. Incumbent Robin Griffin-Lohman received 481 votes.
The only contested race on the Iola City Council saw incumbent Nicholas Lohman receive 87 votes to challenger Myra Gleason’s 67.
LAHARPE’S votes featured wire-thin margins.
Harry Lee Jr. was the top vote-getter among six candidates seeking three City Council seats, receiving 33 votes. Just behind in second was Ronald Knavel Sr. with 31. Incumbent Sharlyn Thompson received 26 votes, a measly one-vote advantage over Cynthia Carr’s 25. Kendra Michael was a close fifth with 21 votes. Craig Trester earned 16 votes.
LaHarpe voters also narrowly passed a 1.5% sales tax vote for street maintenance, 32-30.
VOTERS likely won’t know write-in results for seats on the Iola and Humboldt city councils for a few more days.
Nobody filed for Iola’s Ward 1 Council seat, although Iola High School teacher Doug Kerr mounted a write-in campaign in the run-up to Tuesday’s vote.
Allen County Clerk Shannon Patterson reported 55 write-in votes had been cast in Ward 1.
Those will be sorted through Wednesday, but won’t be announced until the election is canvassed and certified Monday, Patterson said.
In Humboldt, voters cast 36 write-in votes for Ward 2, Position 4, and 33 write-in votes for Ward 1, Position 3.
In Moran, Michael Stodgell (65 votes) and Brad Barrere (45) earned the two Moran City Council seats up for grabs. Candace Tyler finished third with 18 votes.
Also still to be determined are how many provisional ballots were cast in the elections. A provisional ballot is one that’s cast when a voter’s name does not match what’s on the registration rolls.
The provisional ballots will be considered when the election is certified at Monday’s Allen County Commission meeting.
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