Democrat Jennifer Brinkman won a narrow victory in the Lancaster County District 2 board race with less than a single percentage point separating her from Republican Jim Ballard, according to unofficial election night results.
Brinkman assumed there would be a recount saying the race was still too close to call. Meanwhile Ballard said he wanted to sleep on the issue before deciding his next move.
“Wow. It’s been an up and down long night. It came down to 33 votes. That’s incredible,†Ballard said.
At stake is a four-year term on the County Board. The winner will replace Commissioner Larry Hudkins, who chose not to run for re-election after having served nine terms.
Brinkman said whomever ends up sitting before the board will need to address Lancaster County’s aging infrastructure, a major local campaign issue. A dozen rural bridges have been closed indefinitely due to safety concerns forcing rural residents and farmers in harvest equipment to drive miles out of their way to reach their destinations.
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The director of communications for real estate company Tetrad Property Group, Brinkman campaigned on three key issues: economic development, expanding access to health and safety services in the county and bringing together a task force to address aging roads and bridges.
The co-owner of James Arthur Vineyards in Raymond and the From Nebraska Gift Shop in the Haymarket, Ballard said he wanted to give back to the community and campaigned on a promise to focus on public safety, job creation and supporting small business.
Two seats on the five-member board were up for election this year. Roma Amundson ran unopposed in District 4.