2024 Local Election: Five accept write-in votes in town council races

The general election slate is set for town council races in North Big Horn County, with five candidates accepting their write-in nominations during the past week.

For any council seats not filed for during the primary election filing period, those who received write-in votes in the August 20 primary were contacted by the Big Horn County Clerk’s Office in order of the number of votes received.

Two candidates for each council seat advance to the general election, and all five municipalities in North Big Horn County had room for at least one write-in nomination.

For town council seats, a person must receive at least four write-in votes to be nominated and placed on the ballot in November.

In Lovell, filed town council challengers Mike Grant and Gareth Robertson received 222 and 213 votes, respectively, in the primary, incumbent Ray Messamer 196. There were 14 write-in votes, and incumbent Carol Miller received five votes, making her eligible to run for re-election in November. According to the Big Horn County Clerk’s office, Miller has accepted her write-in nomination and will be on the ballot in November.

Byron now has a council race after only one person initially filed for office. Filed candidate Toby Turnupseed received 77 votes in the primary, and there were 67 write-in votes. Stephanie Wagner received 28 write-in votes, Michael Brightly 26. Both have accepted their write-in nomination.

In Cowley, incumbent councilmen Dexter Woodis and Rob Johnson received 113 and 104 votes, respectively, in the primary, and two others received significant write-in votes to qualify for the general election ballot: June Minchow with 39 votes and Max Lewis with 33. Both accepted the votes and will join Woodis and Johnson on the ballot in November.

There were no write-in votes cast for council seats in Deaver and Frannie, according to the clerk’s office, leaving incumbents Nick Loftus and Aspen Beall on the ballot in Deaver and Shang Clendenen, Roger Ganoung and Guy Desantis on the ballot in Frannie.