Butcher Cruises to Ward 1 Win; Brown Wins Road District
There was no April surprise: incumbent Ward 1 Alderman Deborah Butcher cruised to an easy 79-18 win over erstwhile challenger Tom Hutsler in Tuesday’s general election.
The political rivalry between the two — they fought a closely contested election two years ago that saw Butcher win by only 16 votes — was tempered this year when Hutsler dropped out of the race last month. The controversial Hutsler, who can usually be found in the middle of most political scrums in Parkville, cited personal and business interests for dropping out of the race but he dropped out too late and his name remained on the ballot.
In other races of note, Terry Brown defeated James Scott for a seat on the Parkville Road District. The victory for Brown, the popular general manager of the American Legion Hall in Parkville, marks a return to area politics. Brown had lost two fiercely contested alderman elections in Ward 1 to Jack Friedman over the years. He had served as a Parkville alderman in the late ’70s.
Embattled Southern Platte County Ambulance District chairperson Kurt Breininger lost by only two votes to Parkville’s Scott Ritchey. Brieninger was criticized for serving on the board and for having worked for Metropolitan Ambulance Services Trust (MAST) in the past.
In Weatherby Lake, Pat White defeated Jim Ballinger 199-87 for the East Ward Alderman seat. In the West Ward, Mary Hoy defeated Carol Rittenhouse 232-129. Also of note, Weatherby Lake residents voted to increase their tax levy 449-209.