Following a 3 vote defeat to incumbent Jamie Clapham for the Rapid City Area Schools Board of Education Area 6 seat, candidate Brian Johnson sharply criticized district Chief Financial Officer Coy Sasse for election mishandling. Johnson, who secured Pennington County but fell short in Meade County by six votes, alleged significant irregularities, including incomplete voter rolls in Meade County, ballots with improper stamps, and a critical polling place miscommunication in Summerset.
While both candidates had directed voters to Summerset City Hall, the actual polling site was Black Hawk Fire Station, a change not directly communicated to candidates or voters, potentially leading to disenfranchisement as the City Hall’s hours didn’t align with polling hours. Johnson estimated up to 1,000 eligible voters might have been affected, claiming this cost him the election in the conservative-leaning Meade County.
Sasse countered that no voters were denied, as poll workers verified eligibility using state records, and the district adhered to legal requirements, including publishing election notices in the Rapid City Journal and Black Hills Pioneer. The Meade County Auditor acknowledged an initial voter roll error—missing a portion of a precinct—but said it was corrected on election day. Sasse also defended the ballot stamp, which met state law despite omitting specific precincts, as there was only one Meade County polling place for Area 6.
The school board certified the results at its June 10 meeting, rejecting Johnson’s call for a delay due to a seven-day canvassing deadline under state law. Board members like Walt Swan and Katy Urban empathized with Johnson’s frustration, admitting the process wasn’t flawless. Clapham, who abstained from the certification vote, refuted claims she knew of the polling change, providing evidence of her own confusion on election day and expressing dismay at Johnson’s personal attacks.
Johnson plans to request a recount, permissible given the less-than-2% margin, and is considering legal options, such as contesting Meade County’s results or seeking a revote. He praised Pennington County’s election process but called Meade County’s a “total cluster.” Sasse, open to feedback, emphasized his commitment to transparency and improving future elections, welcoming an impartial review to ensure trust in the process.
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