ELECTION NIGHT: 11-5-02
Thanks to everyone who voted Loren Knauss!

This was the big finish for the campaign, and what a finish it was! When all the votes were tallied, Loren (13,761), Lynn Leaders (13,070) and Betty Moats (11,948) won seats on the Board of Supervisors. Once again we had one of our volunteers take photos for those who couldn't be there.

If you haven't been to the Pottawattamie County Courthouse on election night, you've missed quite a show. On the second floor the ballots are gathered from all the precincts and counted as they arrive. Through a window you can see the election workers running ballots through the counting machines, and periodically delivering printed results to the waiting candidates and media.

Photos

The race is on! With 15 precincts reporting, Loren and others get their first good view of the results.

(Left) Behind a window you can see the ballots being processed.

(Right) As the results are tabulated, pages of information are handed to reporters and campaign workers who deliver the news with a flury of phone calls.




Looking over the balcony to the main floor, Iowa Western Community College is reporting on the election live on cable channel 17.

With 20 precincts reporting, Loren and wife Tina look through the results with Lynn Leaders. The race is beginning to take shape now and the numbers seesaw.










Loren's family and friends have turned out to support him and get first word on the outcome.

(Left) The ballots keep getting counted...

(Right) and Loren isn't the only one waiting for the latest news.

(Left) Up the elevator to the second floor come the ballot boxes from eastern Pottawattamie communities. The travel time to deliver them means they arrive later in the night.

Everyone nervously awaits the next set of results and wonder what will happen next. Standings easily change as new precincts report.






Then the news is delivered, with all votes counted, Loren Knauss, Lynn Leaders and Betty Moats have been elected to office. I was too slow to snap a shot of the hug, but Loren and Tina have just taken a big sigh of relief.














Congratulations come from all around to the candidates.













Everyone takes a deep breath... it's over.











Congrats from behind the glass window.









(Left) Betty welcomes Loren to the board...

(Right) and the Nonpareil asks a few questions for the campaign wrap up.

Now... it's time for a good nights sleep.