Voters advance six L-N candidates to general election

The U. S. Election process is not a simple, or quick procedure. However, one big step was taken last week as all 93 counties in the State of Nebraska held their primary elections. In general this primary election narrowed the election field down to just one candidate per political party. The winners of the primary will face off in November in the General Election.

While the above is true for political offices, there are many elected positions that are “non-political” and in most likely hood the winner of the primary will move on to the office.

A rundown of the most interesting local offices and the results.

Lawrence-Nelson School District Board of Education:

This election may have caused a little confusion . . . but that’s OK because it is confusing.

Three positions were up for election and seven people had filed for election. The primary election’s purpose is to narrow the field down to where there are only two contenders for each open position. So, even though the ballot said to vote for three, actually six people’s names will appear on the General Election Ballot this fall. One of the seven was eliminated.

The result of the primary voting was: Ryan Schroer 301, Alicia Kucera 245, David Theer 223, Colby Fox 204, Cole Epley 193, David Oschner 176, Taylor Lynch 140.

The first six names will be on the ballot this fall.

Considering the L-N School Board, the situation included the factors that David Oschner was ‘appointed’ to the position held by Kelsey Kathman who resigned from the board. That position was one up for election, so if he wanted to retain a position on the board, he had to run again, which he did. Also, Duane Buescher and Becky Miller both decided to retire from their many years of service on the board and their position were up for election this year as well.

County Treasurer: Three people were in the running for this position with the present treasurer, Vicki Ensign, retiring at the end of this year. All three were in the same political party, so the winner would have no opponent this fall. Tami Sharp was the overwhelming winner with 510 votes. Carrie Jeffery had 303 and Laura Elledge had 186.

Other county offices had only one person file for the positions and will automatically move on to the General Elections this fall.

Nebraska Legislature: incumbent Save Murman of Glenvil won Nuckolls County easily as he earned 922 votes. Running against him was Tyler Cappel who had 179 votes.

U. S. House of Representatives: Adrian Smith appears to have been re-elected. In Nuckolls County he earned 719 votes out of the 1,083 voters.

Governor: Perhaps the election race getting the most attention in Nebraska was for the position of Governor. Nine Republicans wanted to be elected, with three seemly the top contenders. Mr. Jim Pillen was the winner in Nuckolls and it seems the rest of Nebraska. In Nuckolls County he had 404 votes; Charles Herbster had 368 and Brett Lindstrom had 151.

Other races that seems to have a local interest included:

Secretary of State: Bob Evnen 271; Rex Schroer 270; Robert Borer 258.

State Treasurer: John Murante 492; Paul Anderson 294.

Public Service Commissioner: Eric Kamler 479; Rod Johnson 326.

In the governor’s race close to 400,000 votes were cast in the state. More than 250,000 were Republicans and just under 100,000 were for Democrats.

On the National scene, by the time this paper is printed ten states will have completed their primary elections. Forty more to follow.