Edited Wednesday, 8:30 am
P-C voters elect board members by write-in
Voters in the Greene County Community School District voted by a three to two margin against a $20 million bond issue to bring the district’s students all under two roofs, both in Jefferson.
Across the district, the vote was 975 (60.04 percent) against the bond issue, and 649 (39.96 percent) in favor of the bond issue.
Ashley Johnston and John McConnell, the only names on the ballot for two available positions on the school board, were elected to four year terms. Johnston garnered 1,039 votes (49.95 percent) and McConnell received 975 votes (46.88 percent). There were a total of 66 write-in votes cast and 1,174 undervotes.
Voter turnout district-wide was 28.6 percent.
School superintendent Tim Christensen said he was disappointed in the results, and that he and the board will assess why people voted “no” and determine how to best address those concerns. He said there is a 60 day minimum before another vote can be held, and that the question may be on a ballot again in February or April.
The vote was closest in the Jefferson precinct, with 613 (52.84 percent) against and 547 (47.16 percent) in favor. Voter turnout in the Jefferson precinct was 1,162 for 28.52 percent.
In the Scranton precinct there were 89 “no” votes (68.46 percent) and 41 “yes’ votes (31.54 percent). Voter turnout in the precinct was 25.69 percent.
Voter turnout was stronger in the former East Greene district. Rippey voters denied the proposal 66 votes (72.53 percent) to 25 votes (27.47 percent). Grand Junction voters were resoundingly against the proposal, with 207 “no” votes (85.19 percent) and 36 “yes” votes (14.81 percent). Turnouts were 29.64 percent in the Rippey precinct and 30.5 percent in the Grand Junction precinct.
In the Paton-Churdan district, Dave Palmer and Steve Burrell won write-in elections for a pair of four year terms. Palmer received 25 votes in Paton, 69 in Churdan and three absentee votes for a total of 97 votes. Steve Burrell, who is currently board president, did not file nominating papers but instead launched a write-in campaign in recent weeks. He received 25 votes in Paton, 61 in Churdan and three absentee votes for a total of 89 votes.
John McCormick was named on the ballot. He received six votes in Paton, 22 in Churdan and 1 absentee vote for a total 29 votes.
Jennifer Maach received 121 votes to complete two years of a four year term that began in 2013. Maach was appointed by the board to fill a vacancy created by a resignation earlier this year.
There were a scattering of three other write-in votes. Voter turnout was 138, or 17.4 percent.
Douglas McDermott of Jefferson was elected by voters in both districts to serve Director District 9 of the merged Area V Community College district. He received 1,202 votes in the Greene County district and 111 votes in the Paton-Churdan district.
