Two apply for Antelope County commissioner seats

Two Antelope County residents have submitted applications to fill the seats of recently recalled county commissioners Allan Bentley and Tom Borer.

As of press time Tuesday afternoon, Antelope County Clerk Lisa Payne had received two applications, one for each involved district.

Applications may still be submitted for the positions.

Candidates must be registered voters in, and residents of, their respective commissioner districts, either District 3 or District 5.

District 3 includes the north half of Neligh Township, all of Blaine and Ellsworth townships (including the village of Brunswick), the west four miles of Custer Township and the northern half of Neligh Township, from Cemetery Road north, and including the west half of the city of Neligh.

District 5 is comprised of Cedar, Elgin (including city of Elgin), Lincoln, Logan, Ord and Stanton townships.

Both terms of office will run until Jan. 5, 2023.

Payne, County Treasurer Deb Branstiter and County Attorney Joseph Abler will conduct public interviews in the commissioners’ room at the courthouse in Neligh, beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, with new commissioners appointed by the three officials.

According to Nebraska election statute, the positions must be filled within 45 day from the date of vacancy.

According to Payne, residents who are willing to serve as a commissioner in either district may send applications to her office at PO Box 26, Neigh, NE 68756.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Public notice released by Payne indicates the positions are subject to veteran’s preference.

The salary for an Antelope County commissioner is $15,748.10, annually, with health insurance and retirement benefits available.

The seats became vacant when former commissioners Bentley and Borer were ousted in a recall election Oct. 15. Bentley was recalled by a 307 to 174 margin, while Borer lost his seat by a vote of 337 to 187. The recall election votes were certified by a canvassing board the following day.

Documents had been filed July 8 in the clerk’s office by Bethany Miller of Elgin and Jack Allemang of Clearwater. Signed petitions were returned to the clerk’s office Aug. 13, and subsequently verified.

The petition to remove Bentley from office contained 218 approved signatures, out of 233 submitted; 135 were required to move forward to election. Verified signatures on petitions in the effort to recall Borer numbered 279 of 306 submitted; 203 were needed to proceed to the special recall election.

Bentley, who was unopposed in the 2018 General Election garnered 361 votes on November ballots and Borer defeated Leroy Kerkman by 24 votes, 300 to 276.