TOP STORY: Winneshiek County Board gets a new look

Photo courtesy of Randy Uhl

When the new Winneshiek County Board is seated in January, name tags might be in order.

Three of four incumbents running in Tuesday's election lost their races.  And since supervisor Steve Bouska had already decided not to seek re-election, that means there will be four new supervisors in January.

In District 1, incumbent Democrat Bill Ibanez lost 47 percent to 45 percent to Republican Dennis Karlsbroten.  Independent Bob Watson had 175 votes--good for 8 percent.

In District 2, there were three newcomers running, with former sheriff Floyd Ashbacher defeating Democrat Rachel Vagts by just over 100 votes, 1,175 to 1,072.  Independent John Franzen was third with 165 votes.

In District 3, longtime county board member Les Askelson was defeated by Democrat Dean Thompson, 936 to 791.  Askelson is also the County Board Chairman, so a new chairman will have to be elected in January.

In District 4, incumbent John Logsdon was the only supervisor to win re-election.  He defeated Democrat Clark Goltz 56 percent to 44 percent.

In District 5, incumbent Lonnie Pierce lost to Democratic challenger Mark Kuhn 53 percent to 47 percent.

Overall, 11,141 ballots were cast out of 13,049 possible registered voters.