---

The special election for citizens of the newly-combined City of Stacy seated incumbent Mayor Mark Utecht for a temporary mayoral post (until November 2024) and four council members.  Balloting was open Tuesday April 9 and took place at the Lent Town Hall.

Candidates were to file for two council seats representing the old township territory and two seats representing the city of Stacy.

The new governing body is necessary due to the merger of the township into the city and the dissolution of Lent.

The vote totals still have to be canvassed and certified but the early tally is:  Utecht 251, challenger Rick Keller got 171 and Tim Berrini received seven.  Utecht has been mayor of Stacy and Keller served as township board chair. Berrini did not bring prior government experience.

The two members seated from the previous historic Stacy municipal boundary were Tim Sawatzky with 73 and Dennis Thieling got 55.  

A boundary adjustment process for merging Lent Township into Stacy included a state official determining the process on the election structure. 

Under the Orderly Annexation Agreement the voters were also supposed to seat two candidates from the former township area.  These two who will serve are;  Jeff Barrett with 178 and Carolyn Cagle got 153.  They had both been supervisors on the township board.

Other candidates included Brian Seekon, who finished at 70 votes, John Scott got 74 and Brandon Price earned 59 votes.  

The new council will be sworn in at a future meeting.  The Stacy City Council has moved  meetings to utilize the old township hall.

---