Election Tuesday

Custer County residents who have not already voted early will head to the polls next Tuesday to cast their ballots in a number of elections countywide.
There are eight candidates for three positions available for four year terms on the commission, including three incumbents—current commission chairman Jim Lintz, Craig Hindle and Mike Linde—all of whom are Republicans.
Joining them in the field of candidates will be a bevy of fellow Republicans, including Jesse Sorenson, a former commissioner who was defeated in the previous election.
Nicholaus Benton, of Custer, has thrown his hat into the ring, as has Jeff Johnson, also of Custer, and Uly Johnson of Fairburn. Kevin Rosse, an independent from the southeast part of the county near Edgemont will be on the ballot as an Independent in the race for the November General Election.
There are two candidates for a two-year term on the commission, one of which is current commissioner Travis Bies. He will be challenged by Mike Busskohl of Custer.
This year’s race for sheriff will look the same as it did four years ago, with current sheriff Marty Mechaley challenged by one of the same candidates as four years ago. Doug Kimball, of Hermosa, who like Mechaley is a Republican, has filed a petition to seek the sheriff’s post.
On the school board front, three candidates have filed positions for two available seats on the Custer School District Board of Education. Incumbents Heather Grace and Michelle Lehman will both seek reelection to a three-year term, and will be joined in the race by Holly Johnson of Custer.
At the Elk Mountain School District, two positions will not have a race, as Travis Paulton and Mary Boots were the only two people to file for a three-year term. That will leave one position open, which will have to be appointed by the board.
There was one candidate for the one position for a two-year term, that being current board president Joann Boggs.
There will be a race for a one-year term on the board, as two candidates filed for one position. Kent Keidel will face Jason Bradeen in that race.
In Hermosa there are three candidates on the ballot for two seats on the Hermosa Board of Trustees, but one of those candidates recently resigned from the very position being sought in the election.
On the ballot in the June 7 election are Hermosa residents Linda Kramer, Bobbie Kloski and Bob King, who has served on the board the past several years.
However, in a letter submitted to town board president Dan Holsworth April 21, King resigned his position as vice president of the board.
The resignation was accepted by the board of trustees at its meeting on May 3, however, since the ballots had already been printed, it was too late for his name to be withdrawn from contention in the election.
Custer County finance officer Dawn McLaughlin said if the voters re-elect King, he could either serve another term or would need to resign again if he did not wish to serve.
On the state level, District 30 Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller will face a challenge from her long-time legislative colleague Tim Goodwin. The two Republicans will face off for a two-year term.
There are five candidates for two seats as a District 30 representative, which includes Trish Ladner. She will be joined on the ballot by fellow Republicans Patrick Baumann and Gerold Herrick of Custer, Dennis Krull of Hill City and Lisa Gennaro of Keystone. The top two vote-getters will square off with Democrat Bret Swanson of Hermosa in the General Election.
Gov. Kristi Noem will face state legislator Steve Haugaard of Sioux Falls in the Republican primary for a four-year term as the state’s governor, with the winner taking on Democrat Jamie Smith of Sioux Falls in the General Election.
At the national level there will be a primary for South Dakota’s lone seat as a U.S. Representative, as incumbent Dusty Johnson will face a challenge from state legislator Taffy Howard of Rapid City.
There will also be a primary for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by John Thune. Thune, a Republican, will seek reelection and will face Republicans Bruce Whalen of Pine Ridge and Mark Mowry of Spearfish. The winner of that race will face Democrat Brian Bengs of Aberdeen this fall.
Polling places for all county residents can be found on the legal notices pages in this issue of the Chronicle.

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