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20240409-115907-April 2 Municipal, School Board Results.pdf

Two new taxes and a school bond issue were approved by voters in last week’s municipal and school board elections. Also, two candidates emerged as winner of a three-way race for the Fayette Board of Education, and the Fayette and Glasgow city councils will both see changes.

Despite a better-than-predicted turnout, the polls were slow with only a dismal 14.86% of registered voters casting ballots. Howard County Clerk Shelly Howell predicted only a 10% turnout. Most races in cities across the county went uncontested.

A few races did attract voters to the polls, however. Most notably, tax issues and a handful of contested races. Lisa Shrum and Wes Friebe emerged from a three-way race with Brian Gose for two open seats on the Fayette school board. Two-term incumbents John Stroupe and Matt Hudson both declined to seek re-election.

Shrum, who taught in the Fayette district for eight years, thanked her friends and family for the support, and said she is excited to serve the district in a new capacity.

In a statement to this newspaper, Friebe thanked his supporters and said the conversations surrounding issues such as faculty retention, school safety, and academic/activity performance have been engaging and insightful. “I look forward to continuing with these conversations,” he said. “Public school systems are navigating a timeframe that is filled with change, challenge, and opportunity. I encourage members of the community to come along with our students and faculty to face the obstacles and pursue excellence in Fayette R-III’s academics and activities.”

The Fayette city council will have a new Southwest Ward Alderwoman. LeeAnna Shiflett defeated fellow newcomer Tristin Head 59-40. Incumbent Bekki Galloway did not seek another term. Shiflett was sworn in during the council’s meeting on Tuesday, April 9 after the Advertiser had gone to press.

Fayette also has a new Mayor by the time this edition of the Advertiser reaches subscribers. Greg Stidham was unopposed for the city’s top job. He previously served a term as Mayor before briefly leaving the area. Mayor Jeremy Dawson did not seek a second term.

Elsewhere on the Fayette city council, East Ward Alderwoman Ronda Gerlt and Northwest Ward Alderwoman Michelle Ishmael will hold onto their seats for another term after running unopposed.

Residents in Glasgow will see a new makeup for their Board of Alderman. Incumbent Eric Monnig will hold on to his seat after defeating challenger Mike Carter 34-10. Two new members were sworn-in during the council’s meeting on Monday, April 8. Jason Wright won the vacant seat on the South Ward over write-in challenger Aaron Gouge, 21-12. Incumbent Joey Gibbs did not seek another term. In the Central Ward, outspoken liquor store owner Jeffrey Parks defeated former alderwoman Renna Bean 21-16. Mrs. Bean was running for the seat she previously held before she was ousted by the council in November.

A new county-wide eighth-cent sales tax for the Emergency 911 service was overwhelmingly approved with nearly 75% voter support. The tax passed 740-251.The additional sales tax will applied to purchases once the state has certified the results.

A similar margin was observed in New Franklin. The school district won more than 81% voter approval in a landslide for a $2 million no-tax bond issue for capital improvements. Proposition K.I.D.S. passed 213 to 47.

The City of New Franklin will begin collecting taxes on goods purchased over the internet from other states. The new use tax was approved by two-thirds of voters, 74-37. Taxes collected will go into the city’s general revenue.

A handful of voters in Howard County were eligible to vote for school board candidates in the Harrisburg and Salisbury districts. In Harrisburg, voters here followed the larger trend, with incumbent Josh Stephenson and newcomer Bethann Enochs emerging from a three-way race that included Dawn Malone for two open seats on the board. Eighteen voters in Howard County cast votes in a four-person race for two seats on the Salisbury Board of Education. Incumbent and board treasurer Terry Hulett and challenger Max Schiltz earned the top two vote counts district wide.

Election results remain unofficial until officially certified by county clerk Shelly Howell. They may be viewed in their entirety here or on Page 4 of this newspaper.