STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
There’s going to be a new sheriff in town.
Morgan Ballis, a school resource officer at Wood River High School, ousted Blaine County Sheriff Steve Harkins in a tightly contested primary race Tuesday for the Democrat nomination for sheriff.
He will face Republican Aaron Hughston in November to see who gets to wear the sheriff’s badge.
Meanwhile, Democrat Lindsay Mollineaux handily beat Bellevue Mayor Chris Johnson to retain her seat on the Blaine County Commission.
Voters passed the Blaine County School District’s Supplemental Levy providing $1.85 million annually for two years to pay salary and benefits for kindergarten, pre-kindergarten, gifted and talented and summer school teachers. And voters also approved a $7 million Special Municipal Revenue Bond in Bellevue to improve the city’s potable water collection and distribution system.
In the contested District 26 races, Republican Mike Pohanka, who ran against District 26 A Rep. Ned Burns in the last general election, beat Kally Schiffler. He will run against Rep. Ned Burns in November. And current State Rep. Jack Nelsen beat out his Republican primary challenger Lyle Johnstone by 542 votes to 510. He will run against Democrat challenger Chris Hansen in November.
The results of contested elections in Tuesday’s primary:
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 2-REPUBLICAN
Scott Cleveland 307, 27.17 percent
Sean Higgins 77, 6.81 percent
Mike Simpson 746, 66.02 percent
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 26 SEAT A—REPUBLICAN
Kally Schiffler 437, 42.34 percent
Mike Pohanka 595, 57.66 percent
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 26 SEAT B—REPUBLICAN
Jack Nelsen 542, 51.52 percent
Lyle Johnstone 510, 48.48 percent
BLAINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1—Democratic
Chris Johnson 593, 18.07 percent
Lindsay Mollineaux 2,688, 81.93 percent
BLAINE COUNTY SHERIFF—DEMOCRATIC
Morgan Ballis 1,862, 53.55 percent
Steve Harkins 1,615, 46.45 percent
CITY OF BELLEVUE SPECIAL MUNICIPAL REVENUE BOND
In Favor Of 320, 69.41 percent
Against 141, 30.59 percent
BLAINE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 61 SUPPLEMENTAL LEVY
In Favor Of 3,571, 74.01 percent
Against 1,254, 25.99 percent