Election 2026: Mixed results for votes in area school districts

Voters have rejected a pair of Jackson County Central school district funding requests.

Voters in the JCC district defeated a measure that would have revoked the present 10-year operating levy of $460 per student and replaced it with a new inflation-adjustable 10-year operating levy of $820 per student. They also voted "no" on a proposed 10-year capital project levy in the amount of $250,000 per year.

The operating levy question was defeated 939-734, while the capital project levy question was defeated 1,009-666.  

In another school district special election Tuesday, voters in the Murray County Central school district voted 548-510 in favor of revoking the current $626 per pupil authorization and replacing it with a $1,310 per pupil authorization, tied to inflation. The measure will generate an additional $685 per pupil annually to support day-to-day operations.

In the Sibley-Ocheyedan School District, the vote was 581-460 against an adjustment in the district's Physical Plant and Equipment Levy. The school board asked voters for the full $1.34 per $1,000 of taxable valuation allowed under state law; the current levy is 67 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation.

In non-school elections, voters in Lake Park, Iowa selected three at-large city council members Tuesday among seven candidates. All voting tallies are unofficial.

Elected to the council were Joseph Sohn, an incumbent, with 242 votes; Jason Jacobson with 239; and Nathan Judd with 218. Also receiving votes were Jaret Byers, 137; Jack Bradshaw 109; Jeffrey Nechkash, 92; and Joshua McClain, 32. Lake Park Mayor Matt Carstensen ran unopposed for that office. 

In Arnolds Park, Iowa, two city council seats were up for election. Matt Richter picked up 94 votes and was re-elected; also elected was Jamie Smith with 97 votes. Incumbent Mitch Watters was third in the race with 84 votes, Brian Wrightman had 83 and Jeremy Lueck 76 votes. Randy Pas was unopposed to fill a council vacancy, and Jim Hussong was also unopposed for mayor.

In Milford, Iowa, Bob Clark was elected as mayor following a write-in campaign he began in the days leading up to the election. He received 219 votes. Incumbent Steve Anderson didn’t file for re-election but received 66 write-in votes. 

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