Commissioner margins widen in second count

Another 3,035 ballots were added to the primary election count late Aug. 9, but results after the first count remained unchanged, although the election night’s leaders actually gained slight increases in their share of the returns. Art Swannack of Lamont now has 42.88 percent of the vote in the district one commissioner race with 960, and Bill Tensfeld has a 35.86 share with 803. Incumbent Greg Partch now has 20.14 percent of the vote with 451. The number-three finish ends his bid for a fourth term as commissioner from the district.

Republican challenger Dean Kinzer now has a 59.64 percent share of the returns from district two with 894 votes, and incumbent Pat O’Neill has 40.16 percent with 602 votes.

Tuesday’s thin approval of the Colfax cemetery district’s special levy proposal for $150,000 became thinner, now about eight votes, after the Aug. 9 count. The approval rate is now 60.71 percent with 581 yes votes and 376 no votes.

All other special measures have been approved with yes votes more than 60 percent.