D-19 INCUMBENTS, FRIESEN WIN RE-ELECTION; MARION BOND ISSUE FAILS AGAIN

Jessica Bahmuller and Drew Peterson both won re-election as District 19 representatives in the South Dakota House, finishing in front of challenger Steven Mettler in the June 4 Primary Election held Tuesday.

Bahmuller came out well in front, with 2,165 voters choosing her; that’s 45% of the vote.

The race between Peterson and Mettler was closer and wasn’t decided until Bon Homme and Turner counties came in later Tuesday night. In the end, Peterson won over Mettler 1,435 votes to 1,243, for 30% and 26%, respectively.

Also Tuesday, Steve Friesen won re-election as a Hutchinson County Commissioner representing District 2 over challenger Charles Gering. With all six precincts reporting late Tuesday evening, Friesen had 65% of the votes (148) to Gering’s 35% (78). Both are residents of the Freeman community.

This will be Friesen’s third term on the Hutchinson County Commission.

Marion voters say ‘no’

For the second time in less than five months, voters living in the Marion School District have rejected a general obligation bond resolution designed to help fund a major capital improvement project to renovate the district’s campus.

As part of the 2024 Primary Election Tuesday, June 4, the bond issue asking for $6 million in additional tax revenue to help fund the proposed $11 million project failed to reach even a simple majority.

Of the 420 casting ballots, 216 said no and 204 said yes.

The bond needed 60% approval to pass and earned just 48.57% of the vote.

Voter turnout was 37.36%.

The first bond election, held Jan. 17, was rejected when it failed to reach the supermajority; in that election, 199 said yes and 188 said no.