Two incumbents retained, two ousted from school board

BENKELMAN, Neb. — Two incumbents on the Dundy County-Stratton school board retained their positions and two did not after votes were counted Tuesday at the courthouse in Benkelman.

At the polls Tuesday, school District 117 patrons were asked to select five board members from seven candidates, and Benkelman residents could could pick from two candidates for mayor.

The top vote-getters to fill five positions on the school board are: Nick Ladenberger, 619 votes; Steve Guernsey, 611; Brad Baney, incumbent, 602; Sandy Noffsinger, incumbent, 552; and Toby Marlin, 546. Incumbents Jason Frederick and Kevin League will not return to the board; Frederick came in sixth place with 513 votes and League was seventh with 298 votes.

With 253 votes, retired veterinarian Dr. Robert Rhoades is Benkelman’s new mayor, pulling away from John Carter who got 109 votes. Dallas Chartier is the current mayor.

Keith Haskell got 34 votes and JoAnn Tafoya got 30 votes in the race for three positions on the board of trustees for the village of Haigler. These write-in candidates got one vote each: Jeff Olson, David Spahn, Clay McVey, Monte Noffsinger, Steven Barnes, Stanley Carlock, Kathy Blecha and Jerrie Wheaton. Dundy County election officials are checking with the Secretary of State’s office to determine how to fill that third position.

Other local results are:

County clerk: Tony Lutz, 746 votes.

County treasurer: Penny Denny, 748 votes.

County assessor: Tish Burrell, 673 votes.

County sheriff: Justin Nichols, 713 votes.

County attorney: Gary Burke, 571 votes.

County commissioner, District 1: Jerry Fries, 236 votes.

County commissioner, District 2: Richard Bartholomew, 238 votes.

Benkelman city council, West Ward: JoAnn Decker, 207 votes.

Benkelman city council, East Ward: Deborah Stamm, 130 votes.