Local Primary Election rosters are set

YORK COUNTY – At 5 p.m., Friday, March 1, the filing deadline arrived for races involving the Primary Election, with the rosters now set. 

The most active local races are for York County Commissioner seats.
In District 2 (which represents Stewart, Thayer, New York, Waco, Beaver, West Blue and Ward 1 precincts), there are two candidates. This position is currently filled by recently-appointed LeRoy Ott. He has filed his candidacy, as has Nick Wollenburg. Both are Republicans. Because this is a partisan race, it will appear on the Primary Election ballot in May, and with no other candidates from other parties filing, it will ultimately be decided in the May election.
In District 5 (which represents Wards 4A and 4B in the city of York), there were multiple candidates before the deadline arrived. Current District 5 Commissioner Jack Sikes is not seeking reelection. Filing to run for the seat – all Republicans – were: Don Mohorn, Joe Burgess, Dean Heine and Erick Brekke. All of them are registered Republicans. Before the deadline filing arrived on Friday, Mohorn withdrew his candidacy, according to filing information from the York County Election office. So, on the Primary Election ballot, the names of Burgess, Heine and Brekke will be presented on the ballot. Because they are all Republicans, this race will ultimately be decided in the Primary Election.
When it comes to other local races, they are non-partisan. This means unless the number of candidates is more than double the available seats, they will automatically be sent to the General Election in the fall. That didn’t happen with any of them, so the races moving on to the General Election are:

• Henderson Mayor. This is currently filled by Corbin Tessman. Tessman has filed his candidacy. He will ultimately stay in his position.
• 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. He will ultimately stay in his position.
• York Mayor. This is currently filled by Barry Redfern. Redfern has filed to run again. He will ultimately stay in his position.
• 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. On Friday, Jeff McGregor filed to run. So this race will be decided in the fall election.
• 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 non-incumbents are Stephanie Jacobsen, Grant Jackson and Abbie Christian. Tristan Perry filed to run on Friday. This will be determined in the General Election.
• 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. Because no other candidates have come forward, they will ultimately be the school board members.
• 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. On Friday, Jeb Mierau filed for candidacy. Because there are three seats and three candidates, they will ultimately become the school board members.

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. No one has filed to run as of yet.
• Village of Bradshaw: The seats of James Gordan, Eric Jensen and Mary Kempf are up for election. The candidates are currently: John Hastings, Eric Jensen, James Gordan, Mary Kempf, Devon Stamp and Kent Meyers.
• Village of Gresham: The seats of Justin Brahmsteadt, Tony Cain and Colton Luettel are up for election. No one has filed to run as of yet.
• Village of Lushton: The seats of Richard Hallet, Lennett Siebert and Diana Weisheit are up for election. No one has filed to run as of yet.
• 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.