ADAMS, WOELTJE WIN JACKSON SCHOOLS RACE

JACKSON -- Voters chose incumbent Gerald Adams and former Jackson schools administrator Jim Woeltje from a field of six school board candidates in elections Tuesday.

Adams and Woeltje were overwhelming winners, receiving 1,168 and 912 votes, respectively. Only 2,317 voters out of 17,692 registered in the district, 13.10 percent, cast ballots in the election.

"I'm just real gratified and humbled by the support of the people, and I'm real happy incumbent Gerald Adams was re-elected," said Woeltje. "It's a good thing for Jackson to have consistency."

Woeltje said he hopes to use his knowledge as a former school principal and as a longtime resident in the district to help the school board and community work together to maintain quality education in Jackson schools.

Adams has similar goals for his second term. He said his re-election symbolizes community support for the school board.

"I think it's a vote of confidence as to how the district is being run," he said. "I think the facts and figures were put out there by the district, and people saw how the district was doing and showed their support."

Kevin Schaper received 649 votes, Donna Tidwell received 740 votes, Mack Illers received 784 votes, and Tom Liebeknecht received 116 votes in losing efforts.