Voters reject R-1 school district tax levy
Northeast Vernon County R-1 school district's request for a $1.90 tax levy increase to build a new centralized school failed Tuesday at the polls. When ballots were tallied, 338 people, 46.11 percent, voted for the tax increase while 395, 53.89 percent, voted against it.
Warren Langford, John Houk, Jr. and Andy Brannan were elected over Tonya Cliffman and three write-in candidates, to the Vernon County R-7 School District board of directors, with a combined 80.11 percent of the vote.
In the Nevada R-5 School District, Nora Quitno, Steven Cubbage and Larry Forkner won seats on the Board of Education with 956, 740 and 658 votes.
Northeast Vernon County board of director candidates Robert Fox, Jr., Jeanne Hoagland and Bob Haddix were chosen by 1,227 of 1,877 voters in the district. Dennis Vantellman was also elected as a NEVC board member, taking 575 votes to win over a write-in candidate who received 27 votes.
Joshua Lamb, Bill Nance and Gene Leninger were elected to the Sheldon R-8 School Board with 52, 61 and 72 votes.
Alderpersons elected for the area were: Jerod Lamb and Clara Smith both with 48 votes, Sheldon; Stephen Hart, 35 votes, Sheldon; Andy Brannan, 13 votes, Bronaugh; Harry Pitts, 13 votes, Bronaugh; Walt Koshko, 52 votes and Ted Thomas, 34 votes, Schell City; Linda Longstreth, 62 votes and Loyd McGraw, 34 votes, Walker; Standlee Hill, 8 votes and Larry Chadd, Sr., 9 votes, Milo; and Lyman Bott, 12 votes and David Cullison, 12 votes, Moundville.
Walker voters elected Kevin Lester as the City's Marshal and Dorothy Kratz at Mayor. Kratz won by only two votes, 48-46.
Schell City voters elected Sharon Sanderson to the seat of city collector and Dale Haddix as mayor. Both candidates were the only parties running.
Bronaugh voters elected Sherry Brown to the position of mayor by 23 votes, over a write-in candidate who received three votes.
Three Vernon County cities had positions on the town board up for grabs. Deerfield voters elected Bill Smith and Wayne Sisseck. Harwood voters chose Billy Begley, 19 votes, James Rickey, 14 votes, Paul Rickey, 16 votes, and Eva Scotten, 19 votes, over Marvin Rickey, 11 votes, and four write-in candidates who did not receive any votes. Metz voters elected Michael Hymer and Patricia Hagemann, with a combined 14 votes.
Voters from both precincts elected to merge the Public Water Supply District No. 6 of Vernon County with Consolidated Public Water Supply District 1. In this measure, 753 of 1,001 voters in District 1 voted for the merger and 103 of 200 voted for it in District 6.
The Osage Township special road levy request to continue an additional tax rate of $.25 per $100 of assessed valuation was rejected by 31 of 47 voters.
Nine voters cast ballots electing a write-in candidate for the Vernon County Ambulance District board member position. The write-in party was the only one to appear on the ballot. The candidate's name was not available Tuesday evening.
Nevada voters elected Joyce Wilson, 403 votes, and Tim Wells, 430 votes, to take chairs on the Nevada City Council. Jayne Novak received 339 votes and Rick David received 186.
County officials said voter turnout was lower than expected for the election, with only 2,503 of 11,207 voters, or 22.34 percent, appearing at the polls.
In the El Dorado R-2 School District, Vernon Countians preferred Dennis Whitesell, Matt Cross and Kevin Fast who took a combined 76.88 percent of the vote; however, tallies from voters residing in Cedar County were not available as of press time Tuesday night, so a winner could not be determined.
The Vernon County vote for the Hume R-8 School Board ended up a tie for two of the three elected members with Stacey Swickhamer getting 15 votes and Jeffrey Thompson and Lesa Berry getting 11 votes each; but votes for Hume board members from Bates County were not available as of press time, so a winner could not be determined.
Results reported are unofficial totals. Official results will not be available until a canvas is completed.
Look for an update and reactions to the election results in Thursday's edition of the Nevada Daily Mail.