Supervisors Certify Primary Election Results
Mahaska-County-Courthouse
Turnout hovers near 50% in Republican primary
OSKALOOSA- The Mahaska County Supervisors made official the results of last week’s primary election. The results, as certified, show that Oskaloosa Police Lieutenant Russ VanRenterghem won the Republican nomination for Mahaska County Sheriff. The official results have VanRenterghem receiving 1,601 votes (49.51%). Mahaska County Deputy Sheriff Randy Poe finished second with 993 votes (30.71%), Chief Deputy Trevor Wells was third with 345 votes (10.67%), and Deputy Sheriff Doug McMillan rounded out the field with 295 votes (9.12%).
In the County Supervisor race, the certified results show that farmer Mark Groenendyk won the Republican nomination for Mahaska County Supervisor, receiving 1,763 votes (56.04%). Oskaloosa Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Valinn McReynolds finished second with 591 votes (18.79%), MidWestOne Bank lender Crystal Jimenez was third with 440 votes (13.99%), and veteran Randy Binns finished last with 349 votes (11.09%).
In other Republican primary results, incumbent Sue Brown received 2,432 votes in her uncontested bid to become the Republican nominee for County Auditor. Brown was first elected County Auditor in 2012.
Turnout in the Republican primary was considerably higher than 2012 and 2014. In the County Supervisor race, 3,146 ballots were cast, accounting for 49% Republican voter turnout, based off of voter registration totals posted on the Iowa Secretary of State website as of June 1.
Turnout for the Republican primary for Sheriff was slightly higher. A total of 3,234 Republican ballots were cast, accounting for 50% Republican voter turnout.
In 2014, just over 1,500 votes were cast in the Republican primary, accounting for 24% Republican voter turnout. That number was slightly lower in 2012, when 1,386 votes were cast in the Republican County Supervisor primary, accounting for 22% Republican voter turnout.
While no Democrats filed to run for Mahaska County Auditor, Sheriff, or Supervisor, none of the Republican candidates are guaranteed a free ride to the November general election.
Iowa election laws allow for a political party to nominate a candidate for any office appearing on the November ballot if that party did not run a candidate in the primary election. In order to do so, the party must hold a nominating convention, similar to one that would occur if no candidate receives 35% of the vote in a primary, or if a candidate dies or withdraws after winning the primary.
Additionally, if the Democrat party chooses not to nominate any candidates for office, candidates can collect signatures and file to run as an “independent” candidate. Candidates who choose to run as an “independent” candidate would appear on the November ballot as “nominated by petition,” regardless of their political affiliation.
The filing period for candidates nominated after the primary election to run for County office will run from August 8 to August 31.
