The state average was 19 percent, but local townships all reported their turnout above that percentage. In the city of Paynesville, 29.1 percent of the registered voters voted. Zion Township had 20 percent voting and Roseville Township 30 percent.
Locally, Paynesville area voters turned out to support Johnnie Olson, Paynesville Township supervisor, in his first bid at running on the Stearns County Commission. Olson received 729 votes total in the Fifth District, not enough to earn a place on the November ballot. Incumbent Henry Dickhaus received 981 votes to Don Otte’s, a Sauk Centre farmer, 1,381 votes. Marlene Otte, a Sauk Centre councilmember, received 617. Don Otte and Dickhaus will face off in the Nov. 3 election.
Meeker County reported 35 percent voter turnout because of the strong sheriff race. Incumbent Roger Hirman received 2,295 votes and will met Mike Rogers in November. Mike Rogers’ received 938 votes and Mark Shoutz received 774 votes.
In Kandiyohi County, incumbent Don Kujawa and challenger Steve Marquardt will face off in the general election in November. Kujawa received 4,212 votes to Marquardt’s 1,632. The third challenger Mike Roe received 1,162 votes.