The vote counting went quickly last night in Dawes, Sioux, and Sheridan counties…with final unofficial totals completed in Sheridan about 8:45, in Dawes about 9:15, and in Sioux about 9:45.
A lack of contested local races helped with no countywide contests races in any of the 3 and none on the city level except in Chadron…where one city council race won’t be decided until the official canvass tomorrow, and maybe not then.
Former councilman Dr John Gamby returns after a 2 year absence with 1,207 votes are 37.65% in a 3-way race, but Paris Fisher leads appointed incumbent Jim Mapes for the other contested seat by just 6 vote…989 to 983.
Dawes County Clerk Cheryl Feist has about 40 provisional ballots that will be decided by the County Canvassing Boards starting tomorrow morning at 10:00, so the totals may change and an automatic recount triggered. Feist doesn’t know how many of the provisional ballots are from Chadron city precincts.
Incumbents Terri Haynes and Keith Drinkwalter retained their seats on the Chadron school board, joined by probation officer Gary Hoffman. Haynes totaled 1,814…Drinkwalter 1,611…and Hoffman 1,391. Andy Spencer finished out of the money with 1,239.
There were also 4 candidates for 3 spots on the Hay Springs school board. Those went to Miriam Kearns with 337, Matt Anderson 335, and Mike Hunzeker with 304 while Jerry Matthews finished 4th with 209.
Six people ran for 3 spots on the Sioux County High School board. Claiming those positions were Shon Whetham 220, James Ellicot 217, and Syndey Meidell 212. Dennis Murphy was a close 4th with 195 while Justin Skavdahl received 155 and Ryan Heckert 112.
The race for the District 1 seat on the Western Nebraska Community College Board went to Kimberly Marcy over Dena Redfern Crews 3,341 to 1,754. Marcy carried her native Sheridan County better than 5-1.
There were two contested seats on the Northwest Rural Public Power District Board. Incumbent Wayne Cobb retained his seat with a 166-143 win over Clint Lefter while Rober Rickenbach defeated Lory Storm 677-486.
The Upper Niobrara White NRD…which has subdistricts but votes district-wide across parts of 4 counties…had one contested race. In it, incumbent John Burke beat James Jelinek in Subdistrict 4 5,100 to 3,351.
Sheridan County voters also approved levy overrides for 3 rural fire districts and one hospital district. The Gordon RFD override passed 243-153, the Rushville Rural 176-124, and the Hay Springs Rural 223-149, while the Gordon Hospital District override enjoyed a 60-40 margin, 604 to 406.
Turnout across Dawes, Sioux, and Sheridan counties was solid, but not great with Sioux and Dawes both around 61%. 19% of the registered voters in Dawes County voted early.