One incumbent was apparently defeated, while two others retained their seats on the Belle Plaine City Council following Tuesday’s election.
Third Ward Councilman James Kurovski was ousted by businessman Jason Parizek, 59-57. First Ward Councilman Marv DeRycke received 82 votes. He was unopposed. Councilman-at-Large Garrison Reekers, who was appointed to the council in August, received 220 votes. He also had no formal opposition, although Jerry Blomme conducted a write-in campaign.
According to unofficial results from the Benton County Auditor’s office, Blomme received 92 write-in votes for the at-large position out of a total of 103 write-in votes cast. Nathan Beck jr. received three votes and Sam Beck jr., Gene Severson, DeRycke, Caroll Border, Vernon Blomme, Jerry Tubaugh, James Kurovski and Matt Clark each received one vote.
There were also 22 write-in votes for the first ward position, including eight for Jerry Blomme, two each for Dan Johnson and Clark and one each for Jerry Hamilton, Nathan Beck jr., Vernon Blomme, Sean VanGarf, David Riherd, Charles Garden, Parizek, Denny Garling and Kurovski.
Jerry Blomme received three write-in votes for the third ward council seat and Tubaugh received one.
No candidates filed for election for a park board position. There were a total of 86 write-in votes and Nick Palmer received the most, with 18. Current park and recreation director Joel Formanek was second with 13. Bob Storm, who is retiring after 30 years on the board, received seven votes. Jerry Blomme received six, Judy Ehlen and Kay Ellen Palmer each received four votes. Russ Jacobi, Clark and Dave Hrabak each received three, Chris Johnson, Denny Brown and Larry Weeda each received two and Alex Snyder, Doug Johnson, Nate Moore, Wayne Parizek, “Formanek”, Mervin Kucera, LaVern Willey, “Anyone,” Josh Van Hemme, Bob Spading, Dick Wells, Chris A. Hirsch, Beu Chades, Bob Knacke, Lou Weber, Tubaugh and Vernon Blomme each received one vote.
The auditor’s office reported that 16.52 percent of the registered voters in the city cast ballots.
A formal canvass of the votes will be conducted by the Benton County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Parizek owns Kool Kustumz, an auto and home improvement company. In an earlier profile, he pledged to further open the lines of communication between the public and the city council.
