Voters in Dakota County have spoken!
Nearly 60 percent of eligible voters in Dakota County went to the polls to make their voices heard on their choices for the various seats that were open and for a record six statewide initiatives, ranging from abortion to marijuana.
Two races of local interest saw some interesting results that changed late in the evening before settling on a final outcome.
In the race for the three Dakota County Board of Commissioner seats, it was looking like a Republican sweep midway through the count of the county’s 12 precincts.
Former county board member and current South Sioux City Councilman Rick Bousquet had the highest vote total among the five candidates. He and Homer resident Jeff Reed, both Republicans, cruised to the two highest spots, leaving one spot for what was a back-and-forth swing between the third Republican, Walter Beermann of Dakota City, and Democratic newcomer Rogelio Rodriguez Villalobos.
When the final totals were announced late Tuesday night, it was Rodriguez Villalobos getting the third spot by 17 votes over Beermann, 2,275-2258. Democrat Ron Hartnett of Dakota City was fifth in the race with 1,498 votes.
The other race of interest was with the District 17 seat in the Nebraska Legislature. With current State Sen. Joni Albrecht term-limitied after eight years of service, her husband, Mike, ran against Pender farmer and Thurston County Commissioner Glen Meyer.
Albrecht got the nod here by a 2,725-2,616 count, but in the four counties that District 17 includes (Dixon, Wayne, Thurston, Dakota), Meyer earned the spot in the Legislature by a 5,981-5,439 outcome.
For the complete story, pick up a copy of the Dakota County Star, available at newsstands Wednesday. Subscribe today by calling (402) 494-4264.
