Shoshone County election day recap

WALLACE — Partially suffering from a lack of state or national races on the ballot, voter turnout in Shoshone County was noticeably low on election day this November. While the local ballot did boast a high profile bond initiative proposal and several contested city-level races, it appears that it wasn’t enough to get many motivated as turnout numbers sat roughly around 35% in most instances.

According to election results provided by the Shoshone County Elections Office, the local race with the best participation (based on the number of ballots cast compared to the number of registered voters) was the Wardner City Council race.

Technically an uncontested race according to the ballot (i.e. three open positions and three candidates), the final results showed that two write-in candidates were able to snag some votes and make the race interesting.

With Wardner races being mail-in only, their 60.2% voter turnout is all the more impressive.

Write in candidates Candice Cameron and Ron Cornell were able to garner 13 votes apiece, but it wasn’t enough to beat out any of the candidates listed on the ballot. June “Alice” Alexander (25 votes), Nita E. Buhl (42) and Stella Morgan (47) all cruised to victory.

The only item on the Nov. 5 ballot that all Shoshone County residents could weigh-in on was the bond proposal for a New Public Safety building. With 29.30% of registered voters participating in this race, the proposal was soundly defeated by a count of 1,041 votes in favor of to 1,134 votes against.

The measure received a simple majority of votes in only Mullan (75 yes vote, 61 no), Silverton (57 yes, 51 no), Kellogg (134 yes, 113 no) and Kingston (105 yes, 87 no).

While an overall simple majority was close to obtainable, the initiative would have needed a super majority, 67% plus 1, to pass.

In the hotly contested city council races of Pinehurst, 33.1% of registered voters turned out to decide who would be filling the three open seats.

Regarding the first race in which voters could choose two candidates, incumbent councilman Larry Yergler (129 votes) and newcomer Jeff Lambert (150) came out on top over Darren Hei (111) and Lynn Enquist (86).

In the other race where only one winner could be chosen, newcomer Rick Fuller ran away with the position, garnering 125 votes compared to fellow candidates Brent Briggs with 52 and Debbie Marek with 71.

Incumbent Pinehurst mayor Bob Jutila was uncontested and received 227 votes.

Down the road in Smelterville, 28.7% of registered voters came out to choose two of three candidates to fill open city council positions. With 43 and 48 votes, respectively, incumbent Charles Atha and former councilwoman Jessica Frank won out over Rosalie Miller (21).

Smelterville mayor Tom Benson ran unopposed and received 61 votes.

Further east, Osburn Mayor Kip McGillivray was able to hold off challenger and current city councilman Spike Angle for his position. With an impressive 47.4% voter turnout rate, 219 Osburn residents chose McGillivray compared to 167 who preferred Angle.

Uncontested councilwomen Marcy Hayman (248 votes) and Laurie Richardson (250) also held onto their positions.

In Wallace, only City Council Position No. 1 was contested. Dave DeRoss beat out Jon Ruggles for the seat, 127 votes to 39.

Councilwomen Heather Branstetter for Position No. 3 (145) and Michele Bisconer for Position No. 5 (144) were both unopposed.

Wallace and some Osburn residents were able to also select a new Wallace School District Zone 3 Trustee. Incumbent Anna Burger coasted to victory in that race with 87 votes compared to Sam Lavigne’s 47 votes and James McMillian’s 37 votes.

Both the cities of Mullan and Kellogg had city council races as well, but all of the candidates in those races were uncontested.

Mullan sported a 35.2% voter turnout with Heather Garitone receiving 101 votes and Richard Smith receiving 105.

Kellogg had a low 26% voter turnout, but each uncontested candidate still received a decent amount of support. Anna Moody for Position No. 3 got 208 votes, Terry Douglas for Position No. 5 got 233 votes and Sidney Armstrong for Position No. 6 got 214 votes.

OFFICIAL SHOSHONE COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS:

- Osburn races (100% reported)

Mayor

C. Spike Angle — 167

* Kip R. McGillivary — 219

TOTAL VOTES — 386

City Council pick 1

* Marcy Hayman — 248

City Council pick 1

* Laurie (Gray) Richardson — 250

- Pinehurst races

Mayor

* Bob Jutila — 227

City Council pick 2

Lynn Enquist — 86

Darren Hei — 111

* Jeff Lambert — 150

* Larry Yergler — 129

TOTAL VOTES — 476

City Council pick 1

Brent Briggs — 52

* Rick Fuller — 125

Debbie Marek — 71

TOTAL VOTES — 248

- Public Safety Building Bond

TOTAL

In favor of — 1041

* Against — 1134

Murray

In favor of — 19

Against — 39

Mullan

In favor of — 75

Against — 61

Wallace

In favor of — 113

Against — 132

Silverton

In favor of — 57

Against — 51

Osburn

In favor of — 201

Against — 210

Kellogg

In favor of — 134

Against — 113

Wardner

In favor of — 22

Against — 33

Smelterville

In favor of — 45

Against — 46

Pinehurst

In favor of — 158

Against — 155

Kingston

In favor of — 105

Against — 87

Calder

In favor of — 18

Against — 46

Clarkia

In favor of — 7

Against — 17

Avery

In favor of — 6

Against — 9

Absentee

In favor of — 81

Against — 135

- Wallace School District Trustee Zone 3

TOTAL

Sam Lavigne — 47

* Anna Berger — 87

James McMillan — 38

Wallace

Sam Lavigne — 7

Anna Berger — 27

James McMillan — 23

Silverton

Sam Lavigne — 36

Anna Berger — 56

James McMillan — 12

Osburn

Sam Lavigne — 2

Anna Berger — 2

James McMillan — 0

Absentee

Sam Lavigne — 2

Anna Berger — 2

James McMillan — 3

- Wallace City Council

Position No. 1

* David DeRoos — 127

Jon Ruggles — 39

TOTAL VOTES — 166

Position No. 3

* Heather Branstetter — 145

Position No. 5

* Michele Bisconer — 144

- Smelterville races

Mayor

* Tom Benson — 61

City Council

* Charles Atha — 43

* Jessica Frank — 48

Rosalie D. Miller — 21

TOTAL VOTES — 112

- Kellogg City Council

Position No. 3

* Anna Moody — 208

Position No. 5

* Terry Douglas — 232

Position No. 6

* Sidney Armstrong — 214

- Mullan City Council

* Heather Garitone — 101

* Richard “Rick” Smith — 105

TOTAL VOTES — 206

- Wardner City Council (Mail in only):

* June “Alice” Alexander — 25

* Nita E. Buhl — 42

* Stella Morgan — 47

Candice Cameron (write-in) — 13

Ron Corneil (write-in) — 13

TOTAL VOTES — 93

* indicates winner