Hall County Courthouse, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND — Long-time Hall County Public Defender Jerry Piccolo is not seeking-re-election.
Feb. 15 was the deadline for incumbents to file for re-election.
Piccolo, 68, said Friday, Feb. 16, that he is retiring. He said he has been public defender since Feb. 1, 1990 – 34 years ago.
Piccolo said he currently has five deputy public defenders on staff, one attorney who works with juvenile diversion, and four secretaries.
Piccolo said he will be 69 when his term ends.
Hall County Election Commissioner Tracy Overstreet has a spreadsheet on her office’s website that lists various county offices and the candidates that have filed.
For Hall County Board of Commissioners, all three incumbents are seeking re-election: Karen Bredthauer, 940 S. North Road; Pam Lancaster, 2809 Apache Road; and Gary Quandt, 609 W. 14th.
No one has yet filed for the public defender spot.
Incumbent Ryan O’Neill, 1107 Nebraska Ave., is seeking a six-year term on the Hall County Airport Authority. Incumbent Joe Cook is not seeking re-election. The other person who has filed for a term on the Airport Authority is Doug Brown, 4017 Anne Marie. Two people are elected for the position.
For Grand Island City Council (four-year terms):
*Ward 1: Incumbent Michelle Fitzke, 1508 Independence Ave., is seeking re-election. Doug Brown, 4017 Anne Marie, has also filed for the position.
*Ward 2: Incumbent Mark Stelk, 3121 Brentwood Drive, is seeking re-election.
*Ward 4: Incumbent Mike Paulick, 307 E. 20th, is seeking re-election.
*Ward 5: Incumbent Chuck Haase, 3024 Colonial Lane, is seeking re-election.
For the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education, four candidates have filed for election that are endorsed by Chaperone, a political action committee. According to the group’s Facebook page, Chaperone is a nonprofit, political action committee that has been organized to focus on bring endorsable candidates to run for the Board of Education and beyond.
Chaperone announced Feb. 15 that it is endorsing the following candidates for Board of Education (four-year term): Donna Douglass, Tracy Goodman, Dave Hulinsky, and John McHargue.
*Ward A: Newcomer Donna Douglass, 3828 Norseman Ave., has filed for election. Incumbent Lindsey Jurgens did not file for election. Voters will select one candidate.
*Ward B: Chaperone is endorsing newcomer Tracy Goodman, 2716 Apache, and Dave Hulinsky, 2504 Parkview Drive. Incumbents Lisa Albers, 2012 Barbara Ave., has also filed for the position. Voters will select two candidates.
*Ward C: Chaperone is endorsing newcomer John McHargue, 234 Lakeside Drive. Incumbent Josh Hawley, 909 N. Kimball St., also has filed for election. Voters will select one candidate.
Incumbent Wood River Mayor Greg Cramer, 1008 Marshall St., Wood River, filed for election.
Incumbent Dakota Klingsporn did not file for election to Wood River City Council Ward 1. Incumbent James Thompson Jr., 109 W. 13th St., Wood River, filed for election to Ward 2. Incumbent Eric Nielsen, 1402 Walnut St., Wood River, filed for election to Ward 3.
For Grand Island Northwest’s Board of Education, three incumbents have filed for re-election. They are: Aaron Buhrman, St. Libory; Phil Mader 3609 Hillside Drive, Grand Island; and Artie Moeller, St. Libory, Grand Island. Brady Kayl, 5763 N. Webb Road, has also filed for election. Voters will elect three people for a four-year term.
For Doniphan District 126 Board of Education, incumbent Brent Rainforth is not seeking re-election. Zachary VanDiest, 307 Renee Road, Doniphan; and Cristi Engel, 53 Sonja Drive, Doniphan; are seeking re-election to a four-year term. Voters will select three candidates.
For Wood River District 83 Board of Election, three incumbents have filed for re-election. They are Jodi Rauert, Anne Bohan Woitaszewski, and Craig Huxtable.
