Anderson-Faden, Engstrom win county races; Prunty is new mayor

Daria Anderson-Faden and Larry Engstrom won election to the Kimball County Commission, and Keith Prunty will be the new mayor of the City of Kimball after Tuesday's midterm election.

The proposed tax levy for the Plains Historical Society passed, while the proposed tax levy for the Kimball County Agricultural Society did not pass. Results of all races are unofficial until votes are officially canvassed on Thursday.

In the race to become Kimball's mayor, Prunty defeated City Councilman John Morrison 404 votes to 355 votes. Prunty received 53.02 percent of the vote to Morrison's 46.59 percent. There were three write-in votes.

Prunty won handily in votes cast on election day. He received 346 votes cast Tuesday, compared to 281 for Morrison. Morrison led in early voting, 74 to 58.

For Kimball County Commissioner, newcomer Daria Anderson-Faden and incumbent Larry G. Engstrom were elected on Tuesday night. Anderson-Faden led with 680 votes (34.82 percent) and Engstrom followed with 654 votes (33.49 percent). Shaun Evertson lost a close race with 615 votes (31.49 percent).

On election day, Anderson-Faden had the highest total with 572 votes, followed by Engstrom with 538 votes and Evertson with 515 votes. In early voting, Engstrom led the way with 116 votes, Anderson-Faden had 108 and Evertson received 100.

For the Village of Bushnell Board, Steve Hickman received 37 votes (40.22 percent) to lead three declared candidates in the race. Two candidates and one write in candidate were vying for two spots on the board.

Verne L. Hackbarth received 19 votes, and there were 36 write in votes cast in the race. Tim Nolting was the only declared write in candidate for the board, and it is expected that he will also be elected to the board. However, that will not be official until Thursday, when write in votes are officially counted.

In early voting, there were 10 votes cast for Hickman, five write in votes and four for Hackbarth. On election day, there were 31 write in votes cast, 27 votes for Hickman and 15 votes for Hackbarth.

The Plains Historical Society property tax levy passed 626 votes (53.19 percent) to 551 votes (46.81 percent). In early voting, there were 98 votes cast against the tax and 95 for it. On election day, there were 531 votes for the tax levy and 453 against it.

The Kimball County Agricultural Society property tax levy failed by a margin of 56.65 percent against it and 43.35 percent for it. There were 647 votes cast against the tax and 495 in favor of it. The measure failed by those who voted on election day and those who voted early. There were 533 votes cast against the measure on election day and 114 during early voting. Those voting for the measure did so with 422 votes on election day and 73 during early voting.