Official Canvass of Bitterroot School Elections Confirm Results

The official canvass of the Ravalli County School District Elections was completed this week, with no change in the outcomes. The review of the mail-in elections in three valley school districts, along with Florence Rural Fire District and the Ward Irrigation District was done at the Ravalli County Commissioners office.

Clerk and Recorder Regina Plettenberg said the closest election results were in the Stevensville Elementary School Bond issue, where the gap was even narrower than the election day result. The $6 million issue failed by 8 votes - 1,141 against and 1,133 in favor. The $9.7 million High School bond failed by 200 votes, 1,671 against and 1,471 in favor.

Hamilton school board winners were Drew Blankenbaker, Tim Campbell and Patrick Hanley. Stevensville trustees elected were Sara Armijo and Cathleen Cook, with Michele Brunson elected from Lone Rock. The Florence-Carlton winner was Ben Crocker.

Clint Roberts and Charles Kenneth Brewer were elected to the Florence Rural Fire District board and Daniel Dunagan was elected commissioner for Division 1 of the Ward Irrigation District.

Voter turnout was highest in Stevensville with 42 Percent of registered voters. Florence had 30 percent returning their ballots and in Hamilton it was only 26 percent turnout.