Special City Council Election Held In Independence

Independence voters filled a couple of vacancies on their city council during a special election on Tuesday (March 7, 2017).

Voters selected John Kurtz to be the city's new at-large councilman and Mike O'Loughlin to be the Ward 3 representative. Four candidates were on the ballot to fill the open seats -- two in each race.

Unofficial results from the Buchanan County Election Office show Kurtz beat Richard Wearmouth by a margin of just 10 votes, 181-to-171. O'Loughlin defeated Karen Connell 73-to-50. The results won't be official until they are canvassed by the Board of Supervisors.

Kurtz and O'Loughlin will take their seats on the Independence city council after the election results are finalized. Their terms will expire at the end of 2017.

Both men are filling seats left vacant by resignations.