Garman wins 3-way race for Supervisor

ALGONA­—Amber Garman won a spirited, three-way battle and claimed the District 5 Kossuth County Board of Supervisors seat in the general election Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The race was the lone contested county race on the ballot.

Garman, who ran as a Republican and won the party’s primary last June, previously served as the county auditor as a Democrat.

She earned a four-year term with 893 votes, a plurality of 49.78% of those cast in the race. Independent Mel Haler captured 510 votes or 28.43%, and Democrat Bruce Meinders got 388 votes or 21.63%.

Three other county government seats were on the ballot, but the three Republicans seeking those posts were not contested. Sheriff Roger Fisher won re-election to a four-year term with 7,297 votes or 95.8%. There were 320 write-ins. Auditor Tammy Eden won re-election to a four-year term with 7,187 votes or 98.44%. There were 114 write-ins. Howard Haas won a four-year term as District 2 county supervisor with 1,161 votes or 97.65%. There were 28 write-ins.

Other races

Tom Geelan and Jason Wartick were on the ballot for Kossuth Regional Health Center trustees, and each was easily elected.

Billie Wille, Charles Legler and Mike Smidt were on the ballot for seats on the Soil and Water District Commission, and each was elected without challenge.

Four seats were on the ballot for County Agricultural Extension, but only three candidates were listed. Lucas Eichenberger, Katherine Patten and Heath Paulsen all were elected. Some 253 write-ins will decide the fourth seat.

In races for seats beyond the county, Republicans garnered most of the support from Kossuth County voters. Incumbent Congressional District 4 U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra had 5,898 votes to 2,192 for Democrat Ryan Melton. Incumbent District 9 State Rep. Henry Stone received 4,671 votes and Democrat Christian He-Man Schlaerth had 1,536. Incumbent District 10 State Rep. John Wills got 1,463 votes and was unopposed. Kossuth voters widely approved of two constitutional amendments, with more than 82% approval on both.

In the presidential race, Kossuth County voters lopsidedly supported former President Donald Trump with 5,973 votes or 71.25% to 2,280 votes or 27.2% for Vice President Kamala Harris. Independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had 78 votes and Libertarian Chase Oliver had 24.