One Nation, Under God

County Voters show up, nearly 77-percent

The 2018 General Election is in the books, and with it, there are some new faces in the Phillips County public service sector while some remain the same.

A total of 2,104 voters out of a total 2,742 who are registered in this county came out to cast their ballots on November 6 - 76.73-percent - which Phillips County Clerk and Recorder Marian Ereaux said is about the norm for voter turnout here, adding she is always pleased to see so many people voting.

"It went well and was wonderful," Ereaux said. "Phillips County always has a good voter-turnout and the people here are very civic minded."

Local candidates retaining their positions heading into 2019 are State Representative from House District 33 Casey Knudsen (receiving 1,316 votes with 16 write-ins); Phillips County Commissioner from District B Bruce Christofferson (receiving 1,801 votes with 76 write-ins); County Attorney Edward A. Amestoy (receiving 1,828 votes with 22 write-ins); Phillips County Superintendent of Schools Darlene Kolczak (receiving 1,906 votes with 15 write-ins); County Treasurer and Assessor Jean Mavencamp (receiving 1,941 votes with 13 write-ins); and Justice of the Peace Gayle Stahl who received 1,789 votes to retain against 219 votes against retaining. All of the above ran unopposed on the ballot as Republican candidates except for JOP Stahl as that race is non-partisan. In the State Representative District 32 race (which includes voters from Phillips County) between incumbent Jonathan Windy Boy (D) and Bruce Meyers (R), Windy Boy won with 62.3 percent of the vote, 2,234 to 1,351. In the 17th Judicial District Court race, which covers Hill, Phillips and Valley Counties, Judge Yvonne Laird will continue to be the judge in this county after beating challenger Peter Helland 4,531 to 3,772 (Laird won Phillips County by a 1,121 to 721 vote tally.)

People in new positions within the county following the election are new Sheriff and Coroner Jerry Lytle (receiving 1,837 votes with 64 write-ins), and Lynnel LaBrie as Clerk and Recorder (receiving 1,926 votes with 20 write-ins) as she replaced Ereaux who leaves following her current term with 16 years in the office, the last eight at her current position.

"I have a wonderful staff that helps us and great election judges and counting board," Ereaux said. "Without all of them, we wouldn't be able to do this because we need all those community people to help us."

Ereaux said that she and her husband, Putt, plan to spend retirement being grandparents and watching their grandchildren play sports.

 

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