The Odessa Record - Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!

DAVENPORT—The race between incumbent Matt Schneider of Davenport and challenger Don Staley of Deer Meadows for Fire District No. 5 Commissioner No. 2 is too close to call after three tallies. Schneider currently leads Staley by three votes: 344-341.

Nine write-in votes have been counted in the race.

Schneider trailed Staley after the first count 263-235 Tuesday, Nov. 2, but took a lead Nov. 4 323-315.

Now, after Staley picked up 26 new votes and Schneider picked up 21, the margin is just three votes.

The Lincoln County Auditor’s Office estimates there are 70 ballots left countywide that need re-submission after a signature check, but don’t expect nearly that number to be returned. However, some are still expected to trickle in that could impact the race.

A tied race or a margin of one vote would trigger an automatic re-count after the next count Nov. 22.

Precinct data shows Schneider pulling his votes from the rural Davenport area, while Staley is dominating by Lake Roosevelt.

Schneider leads 53-11 in Wheatland, 59-10 in rural Davenport, 49-25 in east Larene, 27-3 in west Larene, 49-39 in Egypt and 13-8 in Mondovi. Staley, however, has commanding leads of 166-41 in Riverview and 49-9 in Seven Bays. Schneider holds a slim 28-26 lead in Hawk Creek.

Brandon Turner appears on his way to victory over incumbent Carol Paul in Fire District No. 4 for the Commissioner No. 2 position, but the margin isn’t wide enough yet to officially declare Turner the winner. The challenger leads 181-155, with one write-in vote tallied.

Turner’s victory is being picked up in rural Reardan, where he holds leads of 21-10 in north rural Reardan and 29-10 in south rural Reardan. Turner also leads 27-8 in Long Lake, 32-27 in Spring Creek and 14-12 in Gravelle. Paul is keeping the race close with advantages of 26-17 in Mondovi and 22-12 in Waukon. The candidates are tied 22-22 in Edwall.

Justin Slack has secured victory over incumbent Cade Clarke in a race for Harrington School Board, with the former councilmember leading the local pastor 168-107. Precinct results show Slack with advantages in nearly every area inside the school district, including 85-68 inside the city, 25-10 in Mohler, 16-5 in Downs and 25-11 in rural Harr. Slack also leads 5-2 in Bluestem and 12-11 in Earl.

Other contested races can be called, with Scooter Dearing leading John C. Eagleson for Sprague city council 86-53 with nearly every city ballot tallied, according to the auditor’s office. M. Shawn Coombs has secured his spot as the next city mayor with a 99-48 lead over Sunnie Fortin.

Joe Armand has a sizable advantage over Denisa Holling 118-37, while Stephen Hardy leads Christopher Meats 121-30 in races for Harrington city council that can be called.