Weber, Hinnah and Miller-Meeks Win Primary Races

KEOKUK COUNTY – The Iowa Primary Election was held on June 4. In Keokuk County, 1,124 out of 6,664 registered voters voted. In the race for Iowa District 1 of the U.S. House of Representatives, incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks beat out far-right challenger David Pautsch, 16,446 (56%) to 12,926 votes (44%). In Keokuk County specifically, Miller-Meeks received 556 votes (58.46%), compared to Pautsch's 393 (41.32%).

Incumbent Keokuk County Sheriff Casey Hinnah won his reelection bid, beating challenger Deputy Adam Clark 603 (58.49%) votes to 420 (40.74%). Secondary Roads employee Kevin Weber won the Republican nomination for the Keokuk County Board of Supervisors with 333 votes (32.91%), beating out fellow challengers Bryan Coffman, who earned 255 (25.2%) and Cassidy Mitchell, who earned 223 (22.04%). Incumbent Supervisor Fred Snakenberg came in fourth with only 198 votes (19.57%).

Incumbents State Senator Adrian Dickey, State Congresswoman Helena Hayes and County Auditor Christy Bates all won unopposed primaries. On the Democrat side, U.S. House challenger Christina Bohannan and County Supervisor candidate Dennis Boone both won unopposed primaries.

On the day of the election, the News-Review conducted exit polling outside the polling station at the Keokuk County Expo in Sigourney, asking voters who they voted for and why.

“I was out here the other night, listening to the supervisor candidates,” said one voter. “I thought (Coffman) was by far the better candidate...(I voted for Hinnah because of) ignorance. He is the present sheriff, I guess. I don’t know anything.”

“As far as I can tell, the way they believe and so on, is closest to what I believe,” said a Miller-Meeks, Hinnah and Weber voter.

“I voted for Fred Snakenberg for Board of Supervisors because I think he knows enough. He’s been there long enough that he can continue doing what he’s doing,” said one voter. “He seems to be doing a good enough job, you know what I mean? I don’t think they need new blood in there. They just need somebody that knows what they’re doing and can get the job done. I think they’re doing a fine job, the three of them there. That’s the way I want it to remain...(I voted for) Casey Hinnah. I don’t believe everything I read in the paper. Everybody’s got this big plan for how they’re going to fix things, you know what I mean? But when they’re telling about all the stuff that needs to be fixed, they don’t tell you what their plan is and what they’re going to fix first and how they’re going to do and how much it’s going to cost. I says, yeah, you can come up with all sorts of stuff, but I want a plan…(For the U.S. House of Representatives I voted for), I shouldn’t say this, the man (interviewee laughs). When it comes to districts, I don’t know enough about them to even make a comment about it, whether they’re doing a good job, because I don’t really delve into the congressional part of it. So I couldn’t give you a good answer on that. Locally I pay attention to it, but I should go out a bit farther on that.”

“I voted for Casey Hinnah,” said one voter. “I think that Adam (Clark) would do a great job also, but I think we’ll stay with where we’re at…(I voted for Pautsch because) I just think Miller-Meeks is a little more liberal than what I think. And I’ve heard him speak. I like what he said...(I voted Weber for Supervisor because) I think he was the best candidate on the ballot. So I think he’ll do a good job if he gets elected.”

“I voted for David Pautsch because he represents my values more than Mariannette Miller-Meeks...I voted for Kevin (Weber) because I know he loves God. So I kinda trust that,” said a voter. “(For Sheriff I voted for) Casey (Hinnah) because I had already interviewed him, and I did Pautsch too.”

“For sheriff, I wanted to vote for a replacement,” said one voter. “Adam Clark, he came to talk to us and I liked what he had to say and I like his profile. (For the Board of Supervisors) I voted for Coffman. Anyone but Snakenberg...I did not vote for (Miller-Meeks) because she was my eye doctor and I did not like her as my eye doctor. She was always in such a hurry to get out of there when she worked with me.”

“I voted for Adam Clark and Bryan Coffman, because I think they’re probably the best candidates…(I didn’t vote for) Miller-Meeks because I’ve known her and I just don’t think she’s doing what she should,” said a voter.

“(I voted for Pautsch because) I don’t think (Miller-)Meeks is representing people like she said she would. Not a strong candidate. I thought she was, but she’s not...(I voted for Weber because) I know him. I know all of them...(I voted for Hinnah because) he’s sheriff now and he’s doing a fine job,” said one voter.

“(I voted for Miller-Meeks, Hinnah and Snakenberg because) I think they’ve all been doing a good job. No need to change in my opinion,” said one voter.

“Hinnah’s done a great job. Mitchell I think she’ll make a good supervisor...(I voted for Miller-Meeks because) I know her. She does a good job,” said a voter.

“(I voted for) Cassidy (Mitchell) because I think she would do a good job, Hinnah because he is doing a good job...(I voted for Miller-Meeks because) I know her really well,” said one voter. “She came in the store all the time in Ottumwa and stuff.”