Rock the Democracy

With a number of contested races, Kimball County and City of Kimball voters turned out last Tuesday to decide who will be on the local boards.

The number of registered voters in Kimball County totaled 2,824 and 1,402 cast their ballots. Though the number is about half of the total of registered voters, County Clerk Cathy Sibal said that the number is increased from previous midterm elections. There was also an increase in absentee ballots cast this year, with many voting early.

Contested races include the partisan county races for Clerk of the District Court, Kimball County Board of Commissioners as well as non-partisan races for Kimball City Council, the Village of Dix Board of Trustees, the Village of Bushnell Board of Trustees and Kimball Board of Education.

The contested race for Kimball Mayor was close with incumbent Keith Prunty earning 477 votes compared to challenger James Cederburg's 348, thereby maintaining the position.

City Council member Christy Warner retained her position on the council with 495 votes and will be joined by Matt Bright who earned 516 votes. Former councilman John Morrison took 461 votes.

Longtime Kimball School Board member Lynn Vogel earned 516 votes and will retain her position on the board. She will be joined by current board member Matt Shoup who got a staggering 819 votes and newcomer Travis Cook, with 721 votes. Jared Reich got 486 votes, Brad Reader got 433 and Renee Castagna 308.

Clerk of the District Court for Kimball County will be Deb Diemoz with 900 votes, her challenger, Diana Engstrom earned 478.

Kimball County Commissioner Larry Engstrom retained his seat on the board with 683 votes and Daria Anderson-Faden was ousted by challenger Brandon Mossberg with 640 votes to his 913.

Wayne Elliott and Jesse Williamson will sit on the Village of Dix Board of Trustees and the Village of Bushnell Board of Trustees will be Tim Nolting and Colleen Howington.

Ryan McElroy and John Ferguson both retain their seats on the Airport Authority Board.

Keri Rasmussen Mendoza, Linda S. Shoemaker and Joseph Nicklas will sit on the Potter-Dix School Board.

In addition to local decisions, and the Nebraska Gubernatorial race between incumbents Ricketts/Foley and challengers Krist/Walz, the 2018 midterm elections decided winners in the United States Senator race between Deb Fischer, Jane Raybould and Jim Schultz and the Congressional race for District 3 between Adrian Smith and Paul Theobald.

In those races Ricketts, Smith, Fischer and Secretary of State Bob Evnen retained their positions.

The Village of Dix proposed imposing a one-half percent sales and use tax on transactions made within Village limits if the transaction is already taxed by the State of Nebraska. Voters in the village defeated the proposal 47/31.

Initiative Measure 427, proposed by petition, would expand eligibility for medical assistance to adults aged 19 through 64 if certain requirements are met, including an income eligibility of 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Voters defeated the initiative.