The majority of Greene County residents who voted in the Nov. 8 election voted ‘yes’ on the $12.685 million in debt to build a new jail, but it wasn’t the super majority needed to approve the project.
In unofficial results, 1,962 voters (57.45 percent) approved the measure and 1,453 voters (42.55 percent) did not. By Iowa law, though, spending measures like that need a 60 percent approval by voters.
In the only contested race on the county ballot, Republican Dan Benitz was elected to the county board of supervisors to represent District 3. Benitz received 2,242 votes (62.73 percent) to Democrat Mike Holden’s 1,324 votes (37.05 percent). Benitz will claim the seat held by Republican Tom Contner, who did not run for re-election.
Aside from Libertarian Thomas Laehn, who ran unopposed for county attorney, and Democrat Deb McDonald, who ran unopposed for county recorder, Republicans won every race.
Greene County is new to US Representative District 3. In that race, Greene County voters picked Republican Zach Nunn over incumbent Democrat Cindy Axne by a vote of 2,245 (63.08 percent) to 1,307 (36.72 percent).
Greene County is also in a new State House District – District 47 – which includes Guthrie County and part of Dallas County. In that race, Greene County voters awarded Republican Carter Nordman, an incumbent prior to re-districting, 2,264 votes (67.32 percent). Democrat Gary Overla received 1,093 votes (32.5 percent).
A total of 3,670 ballots were cast. That’s 56.21 percent of all registered voters in the county.
Click here for complete results, including non-partisan races.
