Primary election set for Tuesday

Don’t forget to vote next week. The primary election is Tuesday, June 2, and polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sample ballots were published in the May 20 issue of the Custer County Chronicle.  
The City of Custer will not hold an election this year since the candidates for the three two-year council seats were uncontested. Dixie Whitaker ran for Ward I, Julie Jenniges ran for Ward II and Monica McGowan ran for Ward III.
In the Town of Hermosa, two board of trustees seats are up for election for three-year terms. Voters will have the choice of Kelburn Koontz, Donna Ferguson or Elizabeth Miller. 
Two resolutions passed by the Hermosa Board of Trustees will also be put to a vote June 2. Resolution 2026-01 is in regards to creating the Tax Increment Finance District (TIF) No. 2 on the west side of Hwy. 79. A vote of yes will repeal the resolution and prevent the creation of the TIF district. A vote of no will approve the resolution and allow the district to be created. 
Resolution 2026-05 is in regards to the State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan and revenue bond that would fund the drilling of a new Madison well and other improvements to the drinking water system, including treatment for Hermosa’s existing wells. A vote of yes will approve the resolution and allow the improvements and financing to proceed. A vote of no will repeal the resolution and prevent the bond and improvements from proceeding. 
The Town of Pringle will not have an election either since the candidates were uncontested. Pat Zeimet will serve a three-year term, Tony Boggs will serve a two-year term and Steve Teske will serve a one-year term. 
In the Town of Fairburn, Dean Weekley ran uncontested for a three-year term as a trustee. 
In the Town of Buffalo Gap, Steve Jensen and Herman Wells are running for a three-year trustee seat currently occupied by Ray Hussey.
The Custer School District Board of Education has three seats up for election for three-year terms. Running in this election are incumbents Larry Baker, Sara Barrick and Travis Hartshorn, along with Mark Perrenoud.
In the Elk Mountain School District, two board of education seats currently held by Jason Bradeen and Kevin Rosse are up for election. The seats are for three-year terms. Voters will have a choice between Bradeen, Rosse and Terri Janssen.
In Custer County, three seats for the office of county commissioner are up for election. They are currently held by Craig Hindle, Jim Lintz and Mike Linde. Hindle and Linde are running for office, as are Eric Lewis, Jesse Sorenson, Mark Sullivan, Marty Mechaley, Nathan Chowning and Shannon Shields, all Republican candidates. No Democratic  or Independent candidates filed.
Dawn McLaughlin filed uncontested for the office of county finance officer, Teri Morgan filed uncontested for the office of register of deeds and Derrick Reifenrath filed uncontested for the office of Custer County Sheriff, all Republican candidates. No Democratic or Independent candidates filed.
All county offices are for four-year terms. 
Some Custer County residents will also vote on the proposed County Fire Fund opt-out, as well as the potential creation of an East Custer Ambulance District. Those who will vote on those issues will be property owners within the proposed areas of both the opt-out and the proposed new ambulance district. 
In District 30, Republicans Amber Hulse and Julie Frye-Mueller are running for the office of state senator. Republicans Trish Ladner, Tim Goodwin and Steve Saint are running for the office of state representative. The winner will face Democrat Bret Swanson in November. Both offices are for two-year terms.
There is a crowded field at the state level for all positions. Gov. Larry Rhoden, a Republican, is running for re-election and is contested by Republicans Dusty Johnson, Toby Doeden and Jon Hansen. The winner will face Democrat Dan Ahlers in November.
U. S. Rep. Dusty Johnson’s seat is up for a two-year term. Republicans Marty Jackley and James Bialota, Jr. are running for the seat. The winner will face Democrat Nicole “Nikki” Gronli in November.
Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds’ seat is up for a six-year term. Rounds is opposed by Republican Justin McNeal. The winner of the primary will face Democrat Julian Beaudion and Independent Brian Bengs in November.