Bob Main is currently leading challenger Fred Messerle by .2%, a mere 51 votes. There are 148 write-in votes. The results are unofficial but it looks like despite all the money thrown into this campaign there may be a mandatory recount on position one. Voters were left with a difficult choice because Main carries a lot of baggage in that he is responsible for appointing Messerle and radio personality, Cam Parry to the commission. Messerle, is not seen as his own man but a paid puppet of the CCAP. Randy Sanne, with financial backing, would likely have beaten Messerle by a much larger margin.

Both the home rule charter and the administrator were rejected by the voters. The latter was to create the position of an administrator and the commission can still ignore the will of the people and hire one anyway. John Sweet and Melissa Cribbins, position two and three commissioner elects had not expected, nor did they want, full time jobs as commissioners.

The CCAP PAC(K) did not see much return on its investment this go around. The dream of centralizing the county power structure failed, Fred Messerle has likely failed, Bruce Starr who received $5,000 from the PAC, lost. The PAC still has $8,186 in its war chest but so far the board has done a miserable job of shoving its agenda down everyone’s throats. Thank you, voters!!!!

Even though the proposed charter failed as written, its intention was to rein in out of control commissions like this current board. The rules and guidelines on the conduct of commissioners should still be considered to prevent more mayhem like these last two years. There must be some mechanism that does not require a massive government change to to check errant commissioners. Suggestions, anyone?