Only One Incumbent Survives, New School Referendum Defeated In Election

The Ames School District won't open any new elementary buildings anytime soon, but its board will see some new members.

More than 77 percent of voters said no to a plan that would have allowed the district to build three new elementary schools, reopen School and repair and remodel and elementary schools. The tally, with all 21 precincts reporting, was 5,078 to 1,288, according to unofficial results from the Story County Auditor's office.

“I think that the plan to open six schools was not acceptable to the community and I think they spoke tonight,” said Teresa Simpson, a candidate who emerged victorious on Tuesday.

Candidates who said they weren't in favor of a plan to operate six elementary schools were elected to the Ames Community School Board.

Incumbents and challengers , , and led the race for the four, four-year seats, and challenger won a two-year term by defeating incumbent , according to unofficial results from the Story County Auditor's Office.

Woodin had 4,633 votes with 22.5 percent, Simpson had 4,633 votes with 21.1 percent, Deardorff had 4,262 votes with 20.7 percent. Briggs had 3,616 votes with 17.6 percent. Incumbents with 1,906 votes and 9.3 percent of the vote and  with 1,714 votes and 8.3 percent of the vote were unseated.  took the two-year seat with 4,444 votes and 77.3 percent, while received just 1,305 votes with 22.7 percent of the vote.

“I'm a little nervous and very excited,” Briggs said after hearing the results Tuesday.

Simpson said she was not surprised that voters rejected the six-school plan, because voters told her they didn't like the plan while she was out campaigning.

Deardorff agreed that the vote sends a clear message, he said.

“The message is, it's not six,” he said.

Briggs, Deardorff, Espeset and Simpson said they want to move forward on a facilities plan that the community will accept.

“I think we need to harness all the energy around this vote and apply it to a yes solution,” Espeset said. “Let's put something in front of the community they will enthusiastically say "yes" to.”

More than 15 percent of registered voters participated in the election. In 2009, an uncontested race in which two men ran for three open seats, just 5.4 percent of registered voters cast a ballot. Tuesday's results will be made official after a canvass on Friday.

“Good luck to the future school board members. I wish them well,” Jurenka said.