The adage that every vote counts held true in multiple races last week, and was especially true for races that relied on write-in candidates to fill various city and school governing bodies.
The votes were cast last Tuesday, but weren’t certified until Monday morning by Allen County commissioners.
At least four races were decided by two votes or less, and one relied on a coin flip to break a tie.
The nailbiters:
— A coin flip placed Alex Henderson on the Elsmore City Council, along with Ruby Larson, Karen Price, Chad Starliper and Brenda Boyle. Henderson and Danny Fewins each received three write-in votes, prompting the coin flip. The vote tallies for others were Larson and Price, seven apiece, six for Starliper and four for Boyle.
— Savonburg Mayor Vern Cuppet Jr., edged challenger Aaron Wilson, 17 to 15, after provisional votes were inspected. Two of the three provisionals cast in Savonburg counted; one went for each candidate.
— Corky Lynes received nine write-in votes to become part of the Moran City Council, one more than Warren Johnson. Incumbents Bill Bigelow and Chad Lawson filed for re-election, but write-in votes were needed to fill a third seat.
— Gas Mayor Darrel Catron declined to run for re-election. But three Gas voters wrote his name for a City Council seat, one more than did Harry Holloway.
— Also of note, 21 write-in votes also put David Janssen on the Savonburg City Council, as did the 11 write-in votes for Richard Barnham. In fact, Janssen received more votes than all but one of the declared candidates. Only Kim Montgomery (23) received more votes than did Janssen. Others being elected were Charles Leckrone, 17, and Glen Wolfe, 14. Michael Vile, whose name was on the ballot, received four votes.
OTHER RACES relying upon write-in ballots:
— Mark Peters, a retired Iola police officer and Gates Corporation employee, received 17 write-in votes to replace Sandy Zornes on the Iola City Council. He lives in Ward 4.
— Jerad Larkey’s 12 write-in votes were enough to put him on the USD 257 Board of Education. Larkey replaces Buck Quincy, who did not run for re-election.
— Kent Goodner was elected to the Humboldt City Council with five write-in votes.
THE OTHER contested races were unchanged after the provisional ballots were inspected. A provisional ballot is one that’s cast when a voter’s name does not appear on the registration rolls, usually because a voter has moved, married or neglected to register. Twenty-two of the 38 provisional ballots cast were added to the tally.
In Humboldt, the top three vote-getters — Kevin Heisler, Helen Harrington and Nathan Ellison — earned seats on the USD 258 Board of Education, from among five candidates.
Jennifer Coltrane received 60 percent of the vote to earn a seat representing the Gas and LaHarpe areas on the USD 257 school board. Voters favored her over Tracy Lee.
OTHER results from Tuesday, involving unopposed candidates, were unchanged.
Iola City Councilman Jon Wells will replace Joel Wicoff as the city’s next mayor. City Council members voted in were incumbent Nancy Ford and newcomers Ronald Ballard and Gene Myrick. Myrick is a former councilman.
Nancy Toland earned a USD 257 school board seat.
Humboldt Mayor Nobby Davis was re-elected. Voted onto the Humboldt City Council were Cindy Holinsworth, Don Becannon and Ashleigh Dooley.
The three LaHarpe City Council candidates, Ron Knavel Sr., Sharlyn Thompson and Cynthia Carr were each voted in, as was Moran Mayor Phillip Merkel.
Mark Henry will keep his Gas City Council seat.
Newcomer Barbara Anderson and incumbents Neal Barclay and Jenny Spillman were tapped as Allen Community College trustees.
In Bassett, Larry Crawford was elected mayor, while Connie Alexander, Erick Alexander, Olivia Alexander, Carol Crawford and Mark Dozier were voted into the five Council seats.
The elected representatives will be sworn into their respective seats in January.
