Lee Gabel wins Codington County Commission Republican primary

Alexandra Hardle, Watertown Public Opinion
·2 min read

D. Lee Gabel handily won the Codington County Commission Republican primary race over Kerry Jorgenson Tuesday. Both men are from Watertown.

Gabel will now face Raymond Johnson, D-Watertown, in November's general election.

“I was happy and appreciative to win, so I appreciate the voters who came out and supported me,” Gabel said.

During his time on the county commission, Gabel has focused on criminal justice issues and said he will continue to do so if he is re-elected in November. He said he has worked toward getting Codington County a new jail, but that obtaining money has been a challenge since the county would have to pay for it largely through property taxes. That's why he has been working with the state to find other types of funding.

Gabel said he also said plans to focus on ways to keep people out of the criminal justice system in the first place, which ultimately saves money.

*D. Lee Gabel: 397 (64%)

Kerry Jorgenson: 223 (36%)

Results from other races in local counties follow.

Day County

District 5 county commission Republican primary

*Derek L. Sinner, Webster: 86 (59%)

Joshua Atherton, Webster: 59 (41%)

Sinner will face Dari Schlotte, D-Webster, in the November general election.

Deuel County

District 1 commission Republican primary

*Jay Grabow, Gary: 100 (56%)

Roger Kreutner, Revillo: 78 (44%)

Grabow will be unopposed in November.

District 3 commission Republican primary

*Scott Fieber, R-Goodwin: 112 (70%)

James Dailey, R-Clear Lake: 48 (30%)

Fieber will be unopposed in November.

District 5 commission Republican primary

*Harry Mewherter, R-Clear Lake: 103 (69%)

Gary DeJong, R-Clear Lake: 47 (31%)

Mewherter will be unopposed in November.

Hamlin County

District 4 commission Republican primary

*Burt E. Tulson, R-Lake Norden: 142 (65%)

Jay A. Baldwin, R-Lake Norden: 77 (35%)

Tulson will be unopposed in November.

Kingsbury County

Sheriff Republican primary

*Steven A. Strande, Lake Preston: 816 (64%)

Wade C. Hoefert, De Smet: 469 (36%)

Strande will face Michael A. Jenkins, I-Lake Preston, in November.

Roberts County

District 5 commission Republican primary

*Tom Vergeldt, Rosholt: 110 (51%)

Jeffry Long, Sisseton: 107 (49%)

There is a possible recount in this election. The winner will be unopposed in November.

Spink County

Sheriff Republican primary

*Frank Krumm, Redfield: 831 (67%)

Isaac Appel, Redfield: 405 (33%)

Krumm will be unopposed in November.

District 3 commission Republican primary

*Michael Siebrecht, Redfield: 206 (74%)

Heath Shottenkirk, Redfield: 72 (26%)

Michael Siebrecht will face independent Kevin Siebrecht in November.

Milbank City Council

Ward 2

*Craig Weinberg: 142 (59%)

Scott Hoeke: 99 (41%)

Editor's note: Details about the Spink County District 3 commission general election race have been corrected in this report.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: 2022 Primary election results for Watertown area counties