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The Putnam County
Volume 146 No. 30
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Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Putnam County voters flood the polls By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
HENNEPIN — Some technical difficulties made tabulating the votes difficult, but when the problems cleared, Putnam County voters showed a preference for the status quo in a primary election that pulled in 46.7 percent of the registered Putnam County voting populace. A total of 1,934 voters stormed the polls in the eight Putnam County pre-
cincts to make their voice heard. In local uncontested races, Kevin Kunkel picked up 1,094 votes in his Democratic bid for re-election as county treasurer. Kunkel faces no challengers from the Republican side for November. For the Democratic candidates for county board, all three candidates won their nominations. Duane Calbow received 941 votes; Luke Holly tallied 914; and Eric Balma took
home 820 votes. They will face off against Republican challenger Steve Malavolti who received 345 votes. Duane Calbow will be running for re-election with the other candidates fighting for the seat vacated by Chauntelle Biagi-Bruer in her unsuccessful run for county clerk, as well as the chair vacated by Jordan Ellena as he moves out of the area at year’s end. In his uncontested run for the Democratic nomi-
nation, Bradley Popurella picked up 1,016 votes. He will face off against Republican James Mack, who also ran unopposed picking up 364 ballots. In contested state races, Putnam County voters had clear cut winners in their totals. Local Republican voters picked James Oberweis (239 votes) as U.S. Senator over Douglas Truax (118 votes). That follows with Oberweiss’ statewide victory. He will face
Democrat Richard Durbin in November. Durbin ran unopposed. Democratic voters locally leaned toward Gov. Pat Quinn for re-election with his new running mate Paul Vallas. The Quinn ticket picked up 616 votes for 60 percent of the local total. Statewide, Quinn grabbed 72 percent statewide. Across the aisle, Putnam County Republicans picked Bruce Rauner and Evelyn Sanguinetti as their opponent to Quinn, which
echoes the state decision. The Rauner slate received 143 votes, 35 percent of the vote in Putnam County and 40 percent overall. Adam Kinzinger easily outpaced the challenge from David Hale locally in his run for re-election as 16th District Congressman with 330 votes or 85 percent of the local vote. Kinzinger took 78 percent statewide and will face off against the unopposed Democratic challenger Randall Olsen.
Doyle remains in sheriff’s seat By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
HENNEPIN — In a primary election that saw 46.7 percent of the county’s registered voters turn out, Putnam County Sheriff Kevin Doyle coasted to a win over challenger Kevin Moore. Doyle had 1,229 votes over Moore’s 275 in the Democratic primary for the sheriff’s position. Doyle received the most votes of any candidate in the March 18 primary election. “I was overwhelmed by the support from the voters,” Doyle said. “I think the key is treating people fairly over the last 16 years.” Moore, Granville’s police chief, mounted a door-todoor campaign throughout the days leading up to the primary, but it wasn’t enough to unseat the incumbent. “I have to thank my family, friends and staff for my win,” Doyle said. “I have an excellent staff, and they’ve done a wonderful job for me.” The race for sheriff received the most attention of the county’s 1,924 voters visiting the polls with 1,504 voters making their opinion known in the race. Doyle’s share of the votes gave him nearly 82 percent of the total balloting. With no Republican candidate in the November elections, Doyle will retain his position as Putnam County Sheriff.
Putnam County Record photo/Dixie Schroeder
PCES fifth grade presents Readers Theater Putnam County Elementary School fifth-graders McKenna Solomon (from left), Madison Longbein and Clayton Newsome perform a Readers Theatre piece for two sections of third grade at the school on March 19. The class practiced for two weeks during ISAT testing to keep their learning environment stress free, according to teacher Monica Frund.
Kuhn wins re-election in primary By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
HENNEPIN — Putnam County voters turned out in large numbers to voice their opinions in the primary election March 18. With a total of 1,934 voters going to the polls, 46.7 percent of the registered voters in the
county chose their candidates and their winners. In the contested race for the Democratic nomination for Putnam County Clerk, incumbent Dan Kuhn held off the challenge from Putnam County Board Member Chauntelle Biagi-Bruer. Kuhn captured 954 of the 1,477 votes cast, giving him 65
percent of the ballots. “It feels good,” Kuhn said. “It shows the voters showed their confidence in me and the work I’ve done over the past 11 years. “I had to work hard for this win because I knew my opponent would work hard,” Kuhn said. “There was a lot of money behind her campaign while my
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funds were limited. I went doorto-door to talk to people. I think if people know you and the work you do, they appreciate you.” There was no Republican candidate for the office of county clerk, giving Kuhn an uncontested win in the upcoming general elections in November.
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