This week’s Rice County township elections brought a few surprises: Not only did a race in two townships end in a tie, but 84% of Morristown Township voters approved moving its election day from March to the first Tuesday in November to align with state and federal elections. The change takes effect in this November.
Races for Bridgewater supervisor seat C and Wells’ open supervisor seat both ended in a tie. According to state statute, each township’s canvassing board will determine the winner by lot. The statute is silent on a method for making the determination.
In Erin Township, voters -- by a more than a 2-1 margin -- turned back a proposal which would have had its clerk and treasurer appointed rather than elected. Last year, the question failed by four votes (54%-46).
Other results from Tuesday’s township elections received so far are below. Results are unofficial until canvassed by the township’s canvassing board. A check mark (P) indicates the winner.
Bridgewater
Supervisor Seat C:
Frances Boehning – 76
Michael Little - 76
Supervisor Seat E:
Nick Bolton- 97
Mark Koktavy - 53
Cannon City
Clerk:
Marilyn Caron – 24
Write-ins – 3
Supervisor:
Clayton F. Mechura - 24
Write-ins – 2
Erin
Clerk:
Sharon Kaisershot – 58
Write-ins – 7
Supervisor:
Joseph LeBrun – 61
Write-ins – 5
Question: Providing for the appointment of the clerk and treasurer by the town board?
Yes - 20
No - 55
213253
Forest
Supervisor:
Larry Conrad – 39
Write-ins – 1
Supervisor (special election): Daniel Deutsch – 41
Morristown
Clerk: Erin Duhme – 19
Supervisor: Andrew Wagner – 18
Question: Shall the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November be designated as the date of the Morristown Township general election?
Yes – 16
No - 3
Northfield
Supervisor: Foster Transburg – 39
Richland
Clerk: Robert Sommers – 13
Supervisor: Sean Bauer – 13
Shieldsville
Clerk: Susan Ceplecha-Novak – 34
Supervisor: Andy Ernste – 36
Walcott
Clerk: Kourtney Spitzack – 28
Supervisor: Tom Donkers – 27
Warsaw
Clerk: Debra DeGrood – 24
Supervisor: Andy Hopkins – 20
Webster
Supervisor:
Eric Ekstrand – 81
Dwayne Harnack – 71
Paul Sirba – 1
Write-ins - 18
Wells
Clerk: Gray Gunhovd – 17
Supervisor (both write-ins) TIE
Jeff LaCanne – 1
Brenda Pittman - 1
Wheatland
Clerk: James Duban – 49
Supervisor (all write-ins):
Gary Pavek – 26
Others - 20
Wheeling
Clerk: Mikela Medin – 22
Supervisor: Mark Bongers – 22
