La Crosse school board election results delayed as canvassers sort through write-in votes
La Crosse Tribune: Steve Rundio | Published on 4/3/2024
The outcome of the La Crosse School Board race won't be known for another week.
The La Crosse School District Board of Canvassers will meet Tuesday, April 9 to sort through the high number of write-in votes that were cast in the April 2 election.
Only two candidates — Tim Alberts and Adam Manka — filed nomination papers for the three at-large seats, which triggered a flurry of write-in activity. Unofficial results with all 34 precincts reporting show Alberts with 6,035 votes, Manka with 4,433 and write-ins totaling 9,691.
Jake Williams, Kevin Lee, Jeremiah Galvan, Jim Bagniewski, Kathi Blanchard, Mike Richards and Amber Peterson pursued write-in campaigns. At least one of the write-ins will be among the three elected to the board.
The breakdown of the write-in votes won't be determined until the April 9 canvass, which will be conducted at 9 a.m. at the Hogan Administrative Center.
The Board of Canvassers will include school board clerk Merideth Garcia and two school district electors. School district communications director Nick Marcou said Wednesday votes are separated by each city ward and county town and that the board will "go through each ward/town and verify the number of votes cast for each ballot candidate and write-in candidate."
A correct spelling isn't necessarily required for a write-in vote to count.
"It is up to the Board of Canvassers to determine voter intent," Marcou said.
Incumbents Annie Baumann, Brad Quarberg and Jeff Jackson didn't seek re-election to the nine-member board. Members serve 3-year terms.