FRANKLIN – Voters across Franklin, Oneida and Bear Lake counties decided several contested county races and ballot measures during Tuesday’s Idaho primary election.
In Franklin County, Republican voters selected Zan Bowles over Brent Dodge in the County Commissioner District 1 race, with Bowles receiving 68.39% of the vote compared to Dodge’s 31.61%. In the County Commissioner District 2 contest, Robert C. Swainston defeated R. Joe Steele by a margin of 68.48% to 31.52%.
Franklin County voters also approved a two-year supplemental levy for the Preston School District totaling $1.1 million annually. The measure passed with 55.9% voting in favor and 44.1% opposed. District officials said the funding will support school safety, staffing, extracurricular activities, mental health services and technology needs.
Another contested Franklin County race occurred in the Republican Precinct Committeeman 15 election, where Camille Larsen defeated Tyler K. Olson with just over 60% of the vote.
In Oneida County, one of the closest races Tuesday night came in the Republican primary for County Commissioner District 1. Mike Asay narrowly defeated Bob Crowther, receiving 39.68% of the vote compared to Crowther’s 38.5%. Bill Drury finished with 18.76%, while Drew Pettis received 3.06%.
In the County Commissioner District 2 race, Randy Willie defeated Kirk Nielsen with 56.01% of the vote to Nielsen’s 43.99%.
Oneida County voters also participated in a supplemental levy election connected to Cassia Joint School District No. 151. Within the county’s lone reporting precinct, voters opposed the levy by an 80% to 20% margin.
In Bear Lake County, Republican voters selected Blake Phillips in the County Commissioner District 1 race. Phillips received 67.12% of the vote, defeating Kathi H. Izatt and Larry Vila.
The County Commissioner District 2 contest was more competitive, with Micah Rigby receiving 50.78% of the vote to defeat Steve Allred, who earned 37.25%. Lance I. Fitzsimmons and Richard Barako also appeared on the ballot.
Bear Lake County voters also elected Amy Bishop in the Republican primary for Clerk of the District Court. Bishop defeated Richard Spencer with 78.56% of the vote.
One of the county’s most closely watched ballot measures failed Tuesday night. Voters rejected the proposed Bear Lake Fire District permanent override levy, with 60.93% voting against the measure and 39.07% supporting it. The levy would have permanently increased the district’s property tax budget limitation to help fund staffing, equipment and emergency services operations.
Meanwhile, voters in the Bear Lake County portion of the Soda Springs Joint School District narrowly approved a one-year supplemental levy totaling $993,000. The measure passed with 52% support to 48% opposition.
Several precinct committeeman races in Bear Lake County were also closely contested, including Montpelier Precinct 2, where Spencer Clements narrowly defeated Austin Fisher by a 51.28% to 48.72% margin, and the Paris Precinct race, where Bradley D. Jensen edged Kade Grunig with 51.67% of the vote.