9:00 p.m.--Polls have closed

Campaign 2010--a particularly bitter and nasty campaign--has wrapped up and now all that's left is the counting of the ballots.

First up will be the counting of the absentee ballots.  3,370 absentee ballots were cast.

There are several interesting local races, including three-way races for both County Recorder and County Supervisor in District #1.

Charges that Winneshiek County Recorder LaVonne Bjergum was not doing her job to the standards set by the state brought bitter denials from Bjergum--and candidacies by Democrat Barbara Ettleson and Independent Teresa Bockman.  It will be interesting to see which candidate draws votes from which other candidates.

Winneshiek County Board Chairman Dean Darling lost a Republican primary challenge from Lonnie Pierce--but then decided to run as an Independent.  Mark Kuhn is the third candidate in the race, running as a Democrat.