DEFFENBAUGH is the evident choice for At-Large. I will admit, I was skeptical of his race because it seemed like he decided to do this as an afterthought, but once the train hit the tracks he really has been moving. As you may or may not know Jordan has been deeply involved in our community and is very qualified to take on this job on day one. He is also the local founder of Strongtowns after I failed to start a local chapter many moons ago. As for his opponent, Mr. Thomson, he is running a boilerplate, Republican campaign, pro-business, pro-cop, pro-flag, blah, blah, blah. We have had enough of these people on the council, developers and business does VERY WELL in our community. We need people who want to help neighborhoods, that is why Jordan is the clear choice in this. Thomason even suggested a ‘public input’ vote on a new convention center bonds. What is it? Well, we did it with the Events Center. It is a non-binding bond election because in order for it to pass as a bond election it needs 60% of the vote, so they are going to try the same crap they did with the Events Center, do a fake non-binding election and have the council make the decision. I’m sorry, but if we are having an election over $300 million+ in bonds, that needs to be a legal bond election, not some ‘suggestion’. Another reason Thomason doesn’t deserve your vote, he thinks the public isn’t smart enough to make a $300 million dollar decision (or at least 60% of them).
As for Allison Renville, she should have ran for the school board. Her ideas are much more in line with state government or school board.
I think there will be a runoff between Jordan and Richard, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Jordan gets more votes than Richard in the General, then he just needs to secure Allison’s peeps and he is in like Flynn for the runoff.
As for Northeast, not sure what to think. Neil and David would need to get 50+1 to force a runoff. If that were to happen, I would think it would be David vs. Miranda. The one thing that has disappointed me about Miranda is that she seems to be campaigning from her couch, someone needs to tell her that Covid ended a few years ago. No one has seen her at a public event. I’m sure they told her to keep her head down and she will be a shoe in running against the cowboy and the hippie.
STARR is the clear choice for School Board. I only voted for one, I thought about Gail Swenson, but I struggle with her bureaucratic tone and keeping teacher salary negotiations out of public reach. Marc voted for the gymnastics funding to be cut. Tibbetts is unqualified if she wins due to being a plaintiff in the lawsuit that Marc voted for, and there is that perjury thing, twice. Wade Willett, or is it Stuart, doesn’t know his real name and hasn’t been able to find a polling place since he rolled into town, but he wants to change the public school system from within. Also, who is funding this dude?
I think there will be a recount in this election, which I am sure the county auditor will be ecstatic over.
While only two of the races are really competitive, it will still be fun to watch! Now get out and vote, you can still do it today until 5 PM at the county courthouse, 3rd floor, in the janitor’s closet. And of course at your polling place from 7-7 PM Tuesday.