WASHINGTON
The contest court held to determine if the vote on Highland’s bond measure this past November passed muster reached a decision Monday: yes, the bond vote passed with the 60% majority …
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WASHINGTON
The contest court held to determine if the vote on Highland’s bond measure this past November passed muster reached a decision Monday: yes, the bond vote passed with the 60% majority required. The election results hold.
The election results were in question because some voters in the Ainsworth precinct were provided the wrong ballots on election day, thus given the opportunity to vote on a bond measure they had no stake in. Washington County supervisors certified the results; however, Ainsworth resident Ron Greiner collected enough signatures on a petition to contest the election.
The contest court on Jan. 21 involved a three-person panel made up of Greiner, Highland School Board Vice President Dan Ruth, and retired Ottumwa attorney Richard Gaumer. The panel heard from attorneys representing both the school district and petitioners challenging the election results and deliberated for three hours before voting 2-1 that the $15 million bond referendum indeed passed.
Gaumer explained the panel’s determination by citing Iowa Code section 57.4, “It shall not be held sufficient to set aside the election unless the rejection of the vote of that precinct would change the result. The canvas that occurred on the 19th of November with all of the votes indicated that the public measure achieved the required 60% majority. If you eliminate the votes in the Ainsworth precinct, you still get a successful 60%, in excess of 60%. As a result, I think, based on the evidence that was presented and the record that was very ably made by counsel on both sides it is a 2-1 vote of this panel that the election should be declared successful.”
The Washington County Auditor is now obligated to certify the results, clearing the way for Highland to proceed with plans for a new multipurpose facility, entrances to the elementary school, and other upgrades.