Every Vote Counts *Updated*

SIDNEY — The race to fill the final spot in the field for the Sidney City Council was too close to call after the first count Thursday evening, with the last two candidates vying for the sixth and final spot on the November ballot separated by just one vote.

Following the counting of approximately 250 early and absentee ballots that were not counted on election day, and approximately two dozen previsionary ballots, Tamara Nelson was ahead of Zane Hall by one vote .

Under Nebraska statutes, any vote closer than 1 percent of the total votes received by the largest vote garnering candidate automatically triggers a recount. The candidates though can waive their right to a recount.

Following the recount, Nelsen finished with 288 votes compared to Hall with 287 votes.

Nelsen now joins the other five vote getters on the November ballot. The other five candidates are Wendall Gaston, Mark Neinhueser, Marvin Filsinger, Dalan Heitt and Roger Gallaway.

Three candidates officially saw their bids for a seat on the council come to an end Thursday. They were Zane Hall, Tim Hackleman and Tracy Hruza.

Statewide Results

At the state level, the race for the Republican nomination for governor saw incumbent Dave Heineman win easily with 151,641 votes equating to approximately 90 percent of the ballots cast. Paul Andreson and Christopher Geary each lodged approximately 5 percent of the vote.

Mark Lakers was the sole candidate for governor on the Democratic ticket.

In the race for the Republican nomination for Nebraska’s Third U.S. Congressional District, incumbent Adrian Smith garnered 65,249 votes or approximately 88 percent of the ballots cast. His lone competitor in the primary, Dennis Parker, received 8,907 votes or approximately 12 percent of the ballots cast.
On the Democratic ticket, Rebekah Davis ran unopposed.

For secretary of state, Republican John Gale and Democrat Janet Stewart both ran unopposed and advance to the November general election.

Don Stenberg garnered approximately 52 percent of the vote in the race for the Republican nomination for state treasurer. He was followed by Tony Fulton with 28 percent and Tom Nesbitt with 20 percent. Mark Stoj was the lone candidate on the Democratic ticket.

Republican Jon Bruning was unopposed in the primary for his party’s nomination for the position of attorney general, as was Republican Mike Foley for the position of auditor of public accounts. The Democratic ticket did not have candidates for either position.

The Republican nomination for Public Service Commission District 5 was won by Jerry Vapp with approximately 40 percent of the vote. He was followed by Kelly Renee Rosberg with 20 percent, Justin Jenson with 13 percent, Christopher VanWinkle with 12 percent, Mike Delka with 9 percent and Duane Dufek with 6 percent. There were no candidates on the Democratic ballot.

For the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Board of Regents seat for District 7, Frank Svoboda received 59 percent of the vote compared to 41 percent for Bob Phares.

For the State Board of Education’s District 7, Cindi Allen received 52 percent of the vote compared to 47 percent of the vote for Molly O’Holleran.

**UPDATED** Friday 3 p.m.

Official numbers for Sidney City Council candidates are as follows:

Jimmie Hansel 65

Marving Filsinger 667

Zane Hall 287

Roger Gallaway 346

Dalan Hiett 621

Wendell Gaston 902

Mark Nienhueser 766

Tracy Hruza 182

Tamara Nelsen 288

Tim Hackleman 238