Election Results Show King, Reynolds, Carlin and Jeneary As the Winners
(Le Mars) — The election is over and the winners were Steve King, Kim Reynolds, Jim Carlin, and Tom Jeneary. Congressman Steve King retained his position as the 4th District Representative for northwest and north central Iowa. However, Iowa’s two other republican congressional members, David
Young and Rod Blum lost their races to the Democratic newcomers, Cindy Axne and Abbey Finkenauer. Governor Kim Reynolds was able to win the race against Democratic challenger Fred Hubbell. Reynolds can now claim she is the first “elected” woman to serve as Iowa’s Governor. State Senator Jim Carlin of Sioux City defeated his challenger, Dave Dawson, and Le Mars
retired dentist Dr. Tom Jeneary was able to win the State House seat in his first ever run for a political office.
In what was thought to be a closer race, Congressman Steve King won 33 of the 39 counties. Democrat J.D. Scholten took Woodbury, Webster, Boone, Story, Cerro Gordo, and Floyd counties. King acquired 50.32 percent of the total with 157,221 votes to Scholten’s 146,698 votes.
Governor Kim Reynolds was able to win in 88 of the 99 Iowa counties.
Fred Hubbell did win in many of the state’s urban areas and southeast Iowa including Polk (Des Moines), Johnson (Iowa City), Scott, (Davenport), Dubuque, (Dubuque) Black Hawk, (Waterloo/Cedar Falls) Story, (Ames) Linn (Cedar Rapids), and Clinton (Clinton) counties. Other counties that went
with Hubbell were Lee, Des Moines, and Jefferson counties.
The vote split was Reynolds with 662,633 to Hubbell with 623,099. In her victory speech, Reynolds chanted with her supporters “We’re just getting started,” when she talked about the state’s low unemployment rate, tax cuts, growing economy, and number one state ranking.
State Senator Jim Carlin defeated Dave Dawson with 64.74 percent of the total with 16,296 to 35.12 percent and 8,841 votes. Carlin comments about the election results.
Dr. Tom Jeneary easily won his first political race by defeating
Democrat Andrew Emanuel with a 76.84 percent to 23.09 percent with a vote count of 9,706 to 2,917. Jeneary thanked his supporters and those previous state legislators that helped with his campaign.
Jeneary praised the people of Plymouth and Woodbury Counties as having good, strong, morals, and he is looking forward to representing those people at the state legislature.
Other winners across the state included Republicans Paul Pate, the Secretary of State, and Mike Naig, the Secretary of Agriculture. Democrats Tom Miller and Mike Fitzgerald were able to retain their positions as Attorney General and State Treasurer. Democrat Rob Sand will be the next State Auditor taking over the position from Republican incumbent Mary Mosiman.
Plymouth County results had each republican candidate winning with the exception of Democrat Attorney General Tom Miller who won his race, and was unopposed. Supervisors, Don Kass, John Meis, and Craig Anderson each were re-elected to serve another term. County Attorney, Darin Raymond, County Treasurer Shelly Sitzmann, and County Recorder Jolynn Goodchild were all able to retain their positions.
Le Mars Country Store Adding Higher Ethanol Blended Fuels
(Le Mars) — You may have noticed some construction equipment at the Le Mars Country Store located at the intersection of Business Highway 75 and Highway 3. This week Kimmes Enterprises, owner of Country Stores convenience store
chain, broke ground in Le Mars to expand consumer fuel choices. The store is adding registered E-15 (15 percent ethanol, 85 percent petroleum, E-85, E-30, E-50, and B11 (11 percent biodiesel, 89 percent diesel. Construction is expected to wrap up the first week of December. Steve Kimmes, C-E-O of
Kimmes Enterprises says biofuels reduce the amount of toxic chemicals and greenhouse gas emissions in the air. Ethanol blends also have a higher octane rating, boosting vehicle performance. Biodiesel has a higher cetane
rating and increased lubricity, prolonging the life of the engine. Kimmes says these benefits contributed to the company’s decision to add the fuels to the Le Mars location. Kimmes says, “we are excited to support our local
community by offering fuels Iowa farmers help produce. Not only are biofuels are good for our rural economy, but they are good for public health, the environment, and the customer’s pocketbook. Kimmes says “there is no downside, only benefits for our customers.”
Sioux City Diocese Apologizing For Failing To Notify Parishioners About Priest
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Roman Catholic diocese is apologizing for covering up an Iowa priest’s sexual abuse of boys for decades and is promising to identify all priests who have faced credible allegations.
The actions by the Diocese of Sioux City come in response to an
investigation by The Associated Press that broke the church’s 32-year silence on serial abuse by the Rev. Jerome Coyle.
In a statement Tuesday, the diocese said more disclosures of misconduct may be forthcoming. It urged victims to come forward, vowing to use the information to publish a list of credibly accused priests – a step the diocese had resisted.
Coyle admitted in 1986 to having sexually abused 50 boys over a 20-year period. The diocese now says it should have notified parishes and asked victims to come forward back then.
The diocese says it also should have notified the public this summer when Coyle was placed at a retirement home near a school.
Department Of Public Safety Fires Clerk
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa employee responsible for issuing private security guard licenses was fired Tuesday for ethical and other rule violations, and a related criminal investigation is under way.
A termination letter obtained by The Associated Press shows the Iowa Department of Public Safety fired clerk Joseph Sheehan Jr. after a nearly three-month paid leave.
The department tells AP it opened a criminal investigation in August “after a routine review raised concerns related to the issuance of security guard identification cards.” That investigation is still ongoing.
Sheehan’s termination letter says an internal investigation found he violated five department policies, including those governing employee ethics, requiring timely and accurate official reports, barring incompetent performance and requiring employees to follow orders.
The letter didn’t elaborate on Sheehan’s wrongdoing but said that his actions were unacceptable and his employment “has been counterproductive to the best interests of the Department.”
Firefighter Injured From Rollover Accident
VENTURA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a firefighter was injured in northern Iowa when the firetruck he was driving rolled.
The accident occurred a little after 9:30 p.m. Saturday, after the
truck left a fire scene south of Ventura. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that authorities say the driver turned too short at an intersection, causing the truck to roll onto its top in a roadside ditch.
The driver was taken to a Mason City hospital for treatment. He’s
been identified as 65-year-old Doug Phinney.
—
