Story by Derrick Stuckly / Photos by Steve Nash
With 31 contested races on the Republican ballot for the Brown County March 3 Primary, three of the three-person battles were decided without a needing a runoff, while one of the head-to-head contests was determined by just 74 votes.
Scoring a resounding victory in the three-person showdown for County Treasurer was David Becktold, appointed to fill the unexpired term of the retired Ann Krpoun, as he generated 3,743 votes, or 61.37%. Coming in second was Stacee Hetzel with 1,415 votes, or 23.2%, and Stephanie Jester was third with 941 votes, or 15.43%.
“It’s been a long race, it’s been stressful, but it’s something I really wanted and fought hard for,” Becktold said. “I’m just relived to see the results, and the results speak for themselves.”
Ask what he thought was the key to his victory, Becktold said, “I think it was just the hard fought race, getting out there, meeting the people, giving them the facts about the office and information.”
There will be a new Justice of the Peace for Precinct 4 as in a three-man race, John Hunter tallied 868 votes, or 53.91%, to top Brandon McMillan’s 587 votes, or 37.08%, and incumbent Ted Perez’s 145 votes, or 9.01%.
“I would love to thank all the good people of Brown County, all the good people of Precinct 4 and thank y’all for all your love and support through this, I really, really appreciate all y’all,” Hunter said. “I can’t say I expected it, but I’m very grateful for the outcome and everything that’s happened.”
Incumbent County Commissioner for Precinct 2, Joel Kelton, will serve another term as he garnered 607 votes, or 53.34%, to avoid a runoff in another three-person race. Finishing second with 363 votes, or 31.9%, was Jeff Hoskinson and John Stacy with 168 votes, or 14.76%, came in third.
“I’m surprised but very pleased not to have a runoff,” Kelton said. “I want to thank everybody that came out and voted and appreciate you having the confidence and trust in me to serve you for one more term. You never assume you’re going to win, but an incumbent usually has an advantage if he hasn’t done anything silly, so I knew I had that, but you never know. I can’t tell you why they voted that way, but I’ve tried to do right by them and have a solid enough history that they trust me enough for one more term.”
The closest race of the night came down the Brown County Clerk, where Vicky Godfrey Jenkins pulled 2,970 votes, or 50.63%, to the 2,896 of Jennifer McKibben, or 49.37%.
“I’m very appreciative and appreciate everyone who took the time to get out and vote,” Jenkins said. “I appreciate people believing in me and giving me the opportunity. My hat’s off to Ms. McKibben, we ran a great race and I look forward to doing the best job I can do for Brown County.”
When the early voting numbers were released shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jenkins trailed McKibben by 32 votes.
“It was a nail-biter,” Jenkins said. “I said from the beginning if it was God’s plan it would work out and if it wasn’t I would be fine either way. I didn’t panic and just watched the numbers roll in.”
Meanwhile, in the County Surveyor race, incumbent Don King received 3,078 votes, 54.09%, to the 2,612 votes of Gary Johnson, or 45.91%.
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Brown County Unofficial FINAL Voting Totals for March 3 Primary
(CONTESTED RACES ONLY)
Brown County Judge
Tom Munson – 3,001 – 48.13%
Patrick Howard – 2,554 – 40.96%
Shane Britton – 680 – 10.91%
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Brown County Clerk
Vicky Godfrey Jenkins – 2,970 – 50.63%
Jennifer McKibben – 2,896 – 49.37%
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Brown County Treasurer
David Becktold – 3,743 – 61.37%
Stacee Hetzel – 1,415 – 23.2%
Stephanie Jester – 941 – 15.43%
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County Surveyor
Don King – 3,078 – 54.09%
Gary Johnson – 2,612 – 45.91%
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Brown County Commissioner Precinct 2
Joel Kelton – 607 – 53.34%
Jeffrey Hoskinson – 363 – 31.9%
John Stacy – 168 – 14.76%
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Brown County Commissioner Precinct 4
Larry Traweek – 707 – 43.51%
Brandon Byars – 554 – 34.09%
Douglas “Doug” Jester – 364 – 22.4%
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Brown County Justice of Peace Precinct 4
John Hunter – 868 – 53.91%
Brandon McMillian – 587 – 37.08%
Teodoro “Ted’ Perez – 145 – 9.01%
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Brown County Republican Precinct Chair
Robert Porter – 3,646 – 63.7%
Donald Evetts III – 2,078 – 36.3%
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Brown County Precinct 101 Chair
David Gerdts – 274 – 51.6%
Robert “Bob” Contreras – 257 – 48.4%
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Brown County Precinct 109 Chair
Chip Rodgers – 58 – 64.44%
Patricia Pruett – 32 – 35.56%
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Brown County Precinct 113 Chair
Donna Burleson – 294 – 79.03%
Andra Iafrate – 78 – 20.97%
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Brown County Precinct 202/204 Chair
Michele Thomas – 175 – 77.78%
Mychelle Dumas – 50 – 22.22%
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Brown County Precinct 214 Chair
Debra Deeann “Dee” Hart – 131 – 51.78%
Russ Davis – 122 – 48.22%
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Brown County Precinct 215 Chair
Bill Weedon – 69 – 71.13%
William Hamilton – 28 – 28.87%
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Brown County Precinct 303 Chair
Laurie Chastain – 85 – 54.49%
Patrick McLaughlin III – 71 – 45.51%
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Brown County Precinct 307 Chair
Meg Bailey – 134 – 60.36%
John Daigle – 88 – 39.64%
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Brown County Precinct 308 Chair
David Long – 89 – 50.57%
Jana Primrose – 87 – 49.43%
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Brown County Precinct 316/318 Chair
Billy Arp – 300 – 65.79%
Michael Schultz – 156 – 34.21%
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Brown County Precinct 410 Chair
Brenda Barber – 399 – 59.55%
Harold Thomas – 271 – 40.45%
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Brown County Precinct 411 Chair
Russell Hair – 104 – 58.1%
Taylor Hurt – 75 – 41.9%
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Brown County Precinct 417 Chair
David Williams – 275 – 51.98%
Donna Gordon – 254 – 48.02%
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For results on all races voted on in Brown County, click the link below: