Heitschmidt, Adkins, Kline win election

Creates vacancy on council

Todd Heitschmidt won the race for Marion mayor Tuesday, defeating incumbent Mary Olson 329-187. Steve Unruh finished in third place with 29 votes.

Chad Adkins was the leading vote-getter for two open council positions with 319. Incumbent Jerry Kline was re-elected with 219 votes, finishing ahead of Melissa Mermis, 178; Duane McCarty, 170; and David Mayfield, 87.

Heitschmidt said he was surprised and humbled by the totals. His election as mayor will create a vacancy on the council. Heitschmidt said he would double-check the process for appointing a new council member, but he hoped to have a recommendation for the council at its next meeting, April 14.

With 573 votes cast out of 1,265 registered voters, Marion’s turnout was 45 percent, up from 25 percent in the 2012 council election. The results will be finalized by the county commission at 9 a.m. Monday.