Burgstahler leading in POHD race

SANDPOINT — Voters across the county took to the polls Tuesday to vote in a variety of hospital, school and library district elections.

Among the key votes were a $6 million levy vote in West Bonner County School District and a high profile trustee election in the Pend Oreille Hospital and East Bonner Free Library districts. Residents in the county also voted for board members for the Bayview and Southside water and sewer districts.

Voters in applicable precincts had their say on levy and bond questions floated by the Timberlake and Westside fire districts and the Bayview Water & Sewer District are also put levy and bond questions before voters.

In the West Bonner County School District, absentee votes were the only votes available, showing a tight race with 85 votes in favor of the supplemental levy to 108 no votes.

The district was asking voters to approve a two-year, $6 million supplemental levy request — $3 million per year. The supplemental levy covers 26 percent of the district’s operating budget, including a general fund shortfall of $2,128,737 per year, as well as class fees, the school resource officer, technology supplies, library and school funds, curriculum and more.

WBCSD initially put the levy request to voters in March, though it was unsuccessful with 769 against and 536 in favor. The district had a second question on the March 12 ballot asking voters to approve a permanent supplemental override, meaning they would only have to go back to the voters if they chose to raise the levy amount to more than $3 million. With concerns that the permanency question may have caused some confusion, district officials opted to run the levy again on Tuesday, foregoing the second question.

In the Pend Oreille Hospital District election, Scott Burgstahler built up a large lead in early results for the six-year seat on the hospital district board. Canvass results released at 9:15 p.m. showed Burgstahler with 1,639 votes to 488 for Spencer Hutchings.

In the East Bonner Free Library District, Joan Terrell and Judy L. Meyers were leading over Robert A. Diderich in a three-way race for two six-year board positions before voters. Terrell had 1,217 votes, Meyers had 1,407 votes and Diderich had 473 votes.

In the Westside Fire Protection District, voters were asked to decide the fate of a request for a base budget increase of $152,000. In early canvass results, yes votes led with 245 votes to 66 no votes.

In the Southside Water and Sewer District, two six-year seats were up on the board with Michael L. Mooney, Brett Babcock, Dianna Erickson and Jack W. Howard Jr. all vying for the seats. In addition, voters were asked to vote on a four-year term on the board with Douglas J. Bopp and Kass Larson vying for the seat.

In early voting, Mooney had 22 votes, Babcock had 49 votes, erickson had 23 votes and Howard had 44 votes for the two six-year seats. In the race for the four-year seat, Bopp had 58 votes in early canvass results to 19 votes for Larson.

In the Timberlake Fire Protection District, voters were asked to decide the fate of a permanent special tax levy of up to $290,000 per year. In early voting in Bonner County, the measure had 31 votes in favor of the levy and 5 opposed in Bonner County. In Kootenai County, there were 427 yes votes to 301 no votes.

In the Bayview Water and Sewer District, which includes areas in both Bonner and Kootenai counties, Calvin Nolan and Michael Lawerence Kendel vied for a six-year term on the board. In early voting, Kendel had 8 votes in Bonner County and Nolan had 2. In Kootenai County, Nolan received 166 votes while Kendel had 59 votes.

Voters in the district were also asked whether the district should issue water revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed $2.15 million. In early voting, the measure had 8 votes in favor in Bonner County to 2 no votes. In Kootenai County, the measure had 169 no votes to 69 yes votes.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee. Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.