The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher
A phone call to Delbert Kreps last evening caught him off guard when told he had ended with a tie vote for City of LaHarpe Alderman-Ward 1. . Kreps received 92 votes with Incumbent Mike Bennett. Incumbent Vicki Burford took a narrow lead of 2 with 94 votes.
According to County Clerk Kerry Asbridge, the decision between Kreps and Bennett will now be up to the La Harpe City Council to break the tie by random ballot.
Kreps told The Quill he had mixed feelings but ran because he had heard some "grumbling" and wanted to give the voters a choice. "I guess they took it," he said.
In other Wards, the incumbents were voted back in.
In Ward 2 Todd Irish had 65 votes and David Carpenter 45 votes over challenger Pat Berlet with 35.
In Ward 3 Derek Helmers had 73 votes and Brian Lovell had 69 over challenger Ron Covert with 15.
In the Mayor's race, Mayor Kenneth Brown was again the favorite by a good margin of 220 votes over challenger and a past City Of La Harpe Mayor Larry Housewright with 90 votes.
In a phone conversation with Mayor Brown, he expressed his appreciation for all who voted in the election. "That's what it's all about," he said. "I would also ask those who didn't win to come to a City Council meeting and discuss their ideas. "We'd like to hear their ideas and concerns," he said. Mayor Brown has really enjoyed working with the board and being the La Harpe's Mayor.
In the City Of La Harpe question "Shall the City Of LaHarpe Adopt A System of Staggered Terms For Alderman? It passed with 213 Yes and 71 No votes.
The La Harpe Park District vote for Commissioners were Lenus Duffie 289 and Charles White 285.
The La Harpe Carnegie Public Library District Trustees (6 Yr. Term) were Marcella Ketcham 384 and Pamela Sparrow 355. Unexpired 4-year term Deanna Stone 406.
In The La Harpe Community Unit School District #335 Race for three board members: Ricky Johnson (418)-365 Han./53 Hend; Cindy Wear (352) 314 Han./38 Hend; Ed Pence (230) 212 Hanc/18 Hend; over Larry Caston (219) 191 Hanc/28 Hend; and Larry Sholl (201) 166 Hanc/35 Hend.
DALLAS CITY'S Mayor's Race winner was incumbent Lila Gittings 103 Hancock Co. votes and 23 Henderson Votes totaling 126. over challenger Erma Clanton with 66 Hancock Co. votes and 20 Henderson votes for a total of 86 votes.
Dallas City Commissioners (4) Harold Northup, Jr. 149 Hancock and 33 Henderson totaling 182; and Esther Newberry 99 Hancock and 29 Henderson totaling 128.
In The Dallas City Community School District the vote was 271 for Brent Sparrow with Hancock-186/Henderson 85, 157 for David Nudd 185/72, and 262 for Shawn Hopper 184/78, and 97-write-in votes for Joyce Ellison-65 Hancock & 32 Henderson.
The Consolidation issue of Colchester-Northwest overwhelming passed in McDonough County where the majority of the vote was taken.