Staff writer
Perhaps it was the result of many door-to-door campaign visits. Perhaps it was simply time for a change.
Whatever the reason, longtime county commissioner Dan Holub will be leaving the commission room.
Dianne Novak won the race for District 2 with 994 votes. Holub got 715 votes and write-ins went to 253.
Even if Holub had gotten the votes given to write-in candidates, he’d have still lost his seat to his opponent.
Mike Beneke ran an active campaign as a write-in candidate, sending cards and talking to many District 2 voters. Although the names written on the ballots won’t be known until Monday, when county commissioners canvass votes, it’s likely many of them were cast for Beneke.
Holub’s campaign was low-key. He didn’t even put up campaign signs.
Commissioner Randy Dallke retained his seat with a two-to-one margin over challenger Tom Britain. Dallke got 1,078 votes over Britain’s 493.
In the only other contested county race, county treasurer Jeannine Bateman won over challenger Rhonda Casey-Curry by a margin of 3,737 to 1,664.
Tina Spencer, running for clerk; Rebecca Wingfield, running for register of deeds; Courtney Boehm, running for county attorney; and Robert Craft, running for sheriff, all faced no opposition.
Marion County voters favored Donald Trump for president, with 3,928 votes, over Hillary Clinton, with 1,177 votes.
In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Jerry Moran got 4,405 votes, besting Patrick Wiesner with 894.
In the 1st District U.S. Representative contest, Roger Marshall got 3,891 votes to Alan LaPolice’s 1,202.
In the race for District 35 state senator, incumbent Richard Wilborn got 3,983 votes to challenger Levi Morris’ count of 1,411.
The District 70 state representative contest went to incumbent John Barker, 1,470, over challenger Jo Schwartz, 716.
Coupled with voting trends in surrounding counties, Wilborn and Barker appeared well on the way to retaining their seats in the legislature.
Don Schroeder, running unopposed for the State Representative District 74 seat, got 2,958 votes.