Editor’s Note: This story is being updated to reflect a clarification regarding the Linn Fire Protection District race.
According to unofficial returns on Tuesday, 1,429 ballots were cast in the Linn Fire Protection District election. Interest was high among the six candidates vying for three seats as Brad Gabelsberger garnered 276 votes, Dee Vaughan was second with 274, and Mike Ely retained his seat with 267. Fourth among voters was Bruce Sprenger, who collected 193 votes, followed by Bill Wirtel (174), and Nathan Neuner (158). However, there were 94 write-in votes, which will have to be resolved with the official results. How the votes in Tuesday's election are counted will be entirely up to the Linn Fire Protection District.
The original story mistakenly noted that the Osage County Clerk's office had advised voters to write in Sprenger.
LFPD Chief Ron Hoffman on Wednesday explained it was a timing issue. “We thought the deadline was midnight and it was actually five o’clock,” he said. “We told the public that the error could only be corrected by (Bruce Sprenger) being a write-in (candidate). I do not want anyone to think the clerk made the mistake. They were clear to us that they could not say or do anything about it.”
Also in Tuesday’s election, in a closely-contested race for the Linn R-2 school board, Brett Phillips and Jamie Bish have claimed the two seats with 297 and 219 votes, respectively, according to unofficial returns that showed 899 of 8,997 registered voters cast a ballot, or 10%.
Scotty Dudenhoeffer finished third with 169 votes, followed by Andrew “AJ” Womack (149), and Albert Rieke (98).
Fatima R-3 incumbent Matt Robertson carried the majority of the vote with 258 while Coby Holzschuh garnered 186, and Mandy Kliethermes finished with 183.
At Westphalia, Ben Holterman secured 51 votes and Lori Asel was second with 36, followed by Danny Wilde (18), Jamie Kleffner (15), Ashlee Ryan (12), and Gerhard Schmitz (9).
Certified results will be presented next week, along with a look at the vote by precinct and uncontested races.
In a closely-contested race for the Linn R-2 school board on Tuesday, Brett Phillips and Jamie Bish have claimed the two seats with 297 and 219 votes, respectively, according to unofficial returns that showed 899 of 8,997 registered voters cast a ballot, or 10%.
Scotty Dudenhoeffer finished third with 169 votes, followed by Andrew “AJ” Womack (149), and Albert Rieke (98).
With 1,429 ballots cast in the Linn Fire Protection District election, interest was high among the six candidates vying for three seats as Brad Gabelsberger garnered 276 votes, Dee Vaughan was second with 274, and Mike Ely retained his seat with 267. Fourth among voters was Bruce Sprenger, who collected 193 votes, followed by Bill Wirtel (174), and Nathan Neuner (158). However, an issue with some ballots regarding Sprenger’s entry led to County Clerk Nicci Kammerich advising voters to enter his name as a write-in candidate. In the write-in category, there were 94 votes, which will have to be resolved with the official results.
Fatima R-3 incumbent Matt Robertson carried the majority of the vote with 258 while Coby Holzschuh garnered 186, and Mandy Kliethermes finished with 183.
At Westphalia, Ben Holterman secured 51 votes and Lori Asel was second with 36, followed by Danny Wilde (18), Jamie Kleffner (15), Ashlee Ryan (12), and Gerhard Schmitz (9).
Certified results will be presented next week, along with a look at the vote by precinct and uncontested races.
