Chinook city election completed, Harlem had no contested seats

City elections were set for Tuesday, November 7. With no contested seats for either mayor or council positions in Harlem, there was no need for an election there. Chinook was filling the mayor and three council seats, but only one council seat was contested.

In Harlem, incumbent Mayor Bill Taylor decided not to seek reelection. Kim Hansen, who had served on the city council, filed to run for mayor. There were no other candidates who filed for mayor and no contests for council positions. There was no need to hold an election.

In Chinook, incumbent Mayor Keith Hanson had no opposition. In Ward 1 West, incumbent council member Robert Smith ran unopposed. Also in Ward 1 West, Meredy Phares was appointed to serve the vacancy left when Chris Thurman resigned from the council. Phares was elected to fill the unexpired term she had been filling.

The only contested council seat was in Ward 2 East. Incumbent Mitch Haider was opposed by James Hodgson. Haider won that contest. Haider, who first was appointed to the council to fill an unexpired term, ran in 2015 for the unexpired term. Haider said, “I’m looking forward to serving the folks of Chinook for the next four years.”

Voter turnout for the recent city election in Chinook was slightly higher than the 2015 election, with turnout running around fifty percent of eligible voters.

Below are the unofficial results for the Chinook city election. According to Blaine County Clerk and Election Administrator Sandra Boardman, the results will be made official on November 14 when the County Commissioners canvass the votes:

WARD 1 WEST CHINOOK

Votes cast 158

For Mayor

Keith Hanson 125

For Councilman

Robert Lee Smith 132

Unexpired council term

Meredy Phares 147

WARD 2 EAST CHINOOK

Votes cast 156

For Mayor

Keith Hanson 124

For Councilman

Mitch Haider 83

James Hodgson 72