Council members begin new terms

Newly elected Holyoke City Council members were sworn in at the regular meeting on Dec. 6. The sole new member of the council, Trae McCallum garnered the most votes at 459, followed by Brian Akey at 436, Kathy Edge at 395 and Gene Bittner at 378. The council appointed Akey to pro tem mayor shortly thereafter.

Akey, McCallum and Edge are set to serve four-year terms. Normally, they would be the only three members elected, but due to the death of former Mayor Orville Tonsing and Kevin Scott’s appointment to his position, Bittner joined and will finish the final two years of Scott’s four-year term as alderman.

In five of six elections regarding Phillips County, candidates ran unopposed: Terry Hofmeister was elected as county commissioner for District 1, Steve Young as county treasurer, Douglas Kamery as county assessor, Thomas Elliott as county sheriff and Dennis Jelden as county coroner. In the one contested race, Madene “Beth” Zilla won against Hannah Goodman 1,798 to 22.

Holyoke voters also authorized Frenchman Groundwater Management District – 654 votes to 536 – to “collect, retain and spend” all the revenue it receives in Fiscal Year 2022.

Voter turnout in Phillips County stood at 2,000 ballots cast of 2,791 people, or more than 70 percent of the populace. For more election results, go to www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections/electionInfo.html.