Schools

Spahn, Walsh, Cich Unoffically Claim School Board Seats

Russ Spahn, the city's former fire chief, pulled out a narrow victory over longtime board member Cathy Walsh, with Len Cich coming in third.

Russ Spahn’s popularity and familiarity among voters likely played a role in propelling the city’s former fire chief to the top of Tuesday's race.

Spahn unofficially won Tuesday’s spring election with 2,001 votes, edging longtime board member Cathy Walsh, who completed a comeback with a second-place showing of 1,990 votes.

Those two claimed two of three available seats, which were vacated by outgoing board members Julie Rome and Audrey Ellison, who chose not to run for re-election.

Find out what's happening in Greenfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The third seat unofficially belongs to political newcomer Len Cich, who finished third with 1,977 votes, distancing himself from incumbent Rick Moze, who was fourth with 1,831.

Paul Palama, who lost in last year’s primary, finished fifth with 1,639, followed by Brad Sponholz’s 1,311.

Find out what's happening in Greenfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The votes will not be official until Monday, when a board of canvassers certifies the votes. Before then, absentee ballots postmarked Tuesday or earlier that arrive at the city clerk’s office at City Hall by 4 p.m. Friday will still be counted toward the final tally, according to Greenfield City Clerk Jennifer Goergen.

Goergen said her department sent out about 1,500 absentee ballots; at the time of publication, it was unknown how many absentee ballots were still outstanding.


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