LAFAYETTE COUNTY TURNS TO NEW NORTHERN DISTRICT COMMISSIONER; ODESSA REJECTS PUBLIC SAFETY TAX

A change is in the works for the Lafayette County commission, as voters unseated one of the incumbents up for re-election Tuesday.

Voters in the Republican primary elected Monica Ritter over current commissioner Dean Plymell with 57 percent of the vote. Ritter had 1680 votes to Plymell’s 1417. Southern District Commissioner Brad McLaughlin had no opposition in the primary. No Democrats filed to run for either office.

Other incumbents on the Republican ballot fared better in their re-election bids. Jennifer Jellum gained 62 percent of the vote to remain as the Republican candidate for county treasurer. Her 3600 votes outpaced challenger Randy “Flo” Florence’s 2204. Linda Niednick received her party’s nod to remain public administrator, defeating Stephanie Morgan by a 3755 to 2097 margin. David Pulliam had no challengers in his bid for another term as county coroner. Aaron Dye was unopposed to succeed Kerrick Alumbaugh as sheriff, as was Craig Williams in his bid to become county assessor.

Lafayette County voters also weighed in on a number of tax measures, with all but one passing. Odessa voters rejected a proposed half-cent sales tax intended to fund improvements to the city’s public safety, with 59 percent of votes (557-395) opposed. The City of Wellington approved establishing a local use tax by a 101-62 margin, while Lexington voters agreed (490-274) to an $8 million bond issue for their sewer system. The Corder Fire Protection District handily agreed (247-49) to raising the operating levy rate back to $0.35 per $100 of assessed valuation.

Turnout in Lafayette County at Tuesday’s primary election averaged 28.2 percent.

Lafayette County Primary Results (unofficial)