County commissioner, several local school board members not seeking re-election

YORK COUNTY – Incumbent filings for the Primary Election ended on Thursday, Feb. 15, with York County Commissioner Jack Sikes not seeking re-election. 

Sikes has represented District 5 (consisting of Wards 4A and 4B in the City of York) for a number of years. At this point, no one has yet filed to run for this position.
Also seen at the end of the Thursday deadline were other incumbents not filing – each a member of a local school board. Heartland School Board member Gary Braun is not seeking reelection. McCool School Board members Steve Gerken and Doug Smith are not seeking reelection. And York School Board member Amie Kopcho is not seeking reelection.  
The following local races are up for consideration in the 2024 election cycle and filings need to take place with the Primary Election period. Non-incumbents must file by March 1.

• District 2 York County Commissioner (representing Stewart, Thayer, New York, Waco, Beaver, West Blue and Ward 1). This position is currently filled by LeRoy Ott. He has filed his candidacy.
• District 5 York County Commissioner (representing Wards 4A and 4B). This is currently filled by Jack Sikes. There are no candidates at this time.
• Henderson Mayor. This is currently filled by Corbin Tessman. Tessman has filed his candidacy.
• Henderson City Council seat. One seat will be up for election. That seat is currently filled by Kevin Friesen, who has filed to run again.
• York Mayor. This is currently filled by Barry Redfern. Redfern has filed to run again.
• York City Council seats. Four seats will be up for election. These seats are currently filled by Tony North, Jennifer Sheppard, Jerry Wilkinson and Mathew Wagner. Wilkinson, Sheppard, Wagner and North have filed to run again, so all the incumbents have stepped forward.
• McCool School Board seats. Three seats will be up for election. These seats are currently filled by Steve Gerken, Michele Schwartz and Doug Smith. Schwartz has filed to run again. Filing as a non-incumbent is Stephanie Jacobsen.
• York School Board seats. Three seats will be up for election. These seats are currently filled by Brien Alley, Matt Holthe and Amie Kopcho. Brian Tonniges, a non-incumbent, has filed to run, as have Alley and Holthe.
• Heartland School Board seats. Three are up for election. These seats are currently filled by Gary Braun, Lacey Gloystein and Tyler Newton. Gloystein and Newton have filed to run again.

There are numerous local village races which will go directly to the General Election in November. Filings can take place now, if candidates wish, although they are not required to do so until this summer. There have been filings, however, since the window opened for candidates. The following are the races, the open seats and the candidates who have filed:

• Village of Benedict: The seats of Brad Brooke, Erich Heiden and Lonney Schlegelmilch are up for election.
• Village of Bradshaw: The seats of James Gordan, Eric Jensen and Mary Kempf are up for election. John Hastings, Gordan and Jensen have filed. Also filing have been Mary Kempf and Devon Stamp.
• Village of Gresham: The seats of Justin Brahmsteadt, Tony Cain and Colton Luettel are up for election.
• Village of Lushton: The seats of Richard Hallet, Lennett Siebert and Diana Weisheit are up for election.
• Village of McCool: The seats of Dustin Arduser, Reid VanWesten and Brennan White are up for election. VanWesten has filed.
• Village of Thayer: The seats of Carl Georges and Faron Hines are up for election. Hines have filed to run again.
• Village of Waco: The seats of Todd Bauder, Carl Gordon and Robert Saeger are up for election. Saeger and Bauder have filed to run.