What a day - Election Day 2012. Former State Senator and Democrat Tom Rielly defeated by Republican Mike Vander Molen for a seat on the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors. Click here for more on the 2012 General Election.

All results are unofficial until canvassed on November 13, 2012

Mahaska County Board of Supervisors

The local race between Democrat Tom Rielly and Republican Mike Vander Molen for Mahaska County Board of Supervisor was decided by 1,105 votes with Vander Molen winning the election (5,846 - 4,741).

Current Mahaska County Supervisor Ken Rozenboom is running to represent Iowa Senate District 40 - it looks as though as of now he will win that seat and then have to resign from his supervisor position. That will then require a committee made up of the county treasurer, auditor, and recorder to make a decision. The committee could either appoint someone or call for a special election to fill the empty supervisor seat.

Vander Molen won the Republican nomination in a June primary race by 175 votes over incumbent Willie Van Weelden (722 - 547). Van Weelden served on the Board for 12 years. Vander Molen had this to after the election results came in, "I knew I was going to have to work hard and I put a plan together once I knew Tom was getting into the race. Nobody knew how it was going to turn out, but I implemented that plan and but I got out there and talked to people and worked hard."

Vander Molen is a 4th generation Mahaska County resident growing up on a family farm in the Northwest corner of Mahaska County near Peoria. He received a degree in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State, went to law school at the University of Iowa and now works as a patent attorney.

Former State Senator Tom Rielly won the Democratic nomination by a big margin against Dennis Currier (244 - 28). Rielly had this to say after the June primary, "I think I have some experiences, I have some relationships.  I love Oskaloosa, I love Mahaska County and I love Iowa. I've always been involved in public service and I want to continue to do that."

Rielly does have experience, but it wasn't enough to beat challenger Mike Vander Molen. Rielly's record shows he served as a four term Mayor of Oskaloosa, two term Iowa State Senator (District 38), and six years as Chairman of the Iowa State Senate Transportation Committee. CRI asked for a candidate statement leading up to this election and Rielly said, "As your Supervisor I will hold the line on taxes, improve the safety and conditions of our roads and bridges and most important, improve government transparency and communications with the citizens of Mahaska County."

Iowa Senate District 40

Republican Ken Rozenboom won the seat for Iowa Senate District 40, defeating Democrat Tim Tripp.  Rozenboom won in Mahaska County by almost a 2-to-1 margin with 6,881 votes to Tripp's 3,606 votes.

Rozenboom is a current Mahaska County Supervisor.  His victory means he will have to resign as Supervisor and that will open up another seat on the Board. A committee made up of the Mahaska County Treasurer, Auditor, and Recorder will have to make a decision. The committee could either appoint someone or call for a special election to fill the empty supervisor seat.

Rozenboom says, "I believe it's important to eliminate job-killing red tape and burdensome regulations, and to set tax policy that is conducive to business and industry growth."

Tripp is a private practice attorney from Pella, specializing primarily in Social Security Disability law. Tripps' campaign has not taken any money from special interest or lobbyist groups and he says, "I believe this is the proper way to run a campaign, and sends a clear message that I will not settle for politics as usual."

State House - District 79

Incumbent Republican Guy Vander Linden won the State House District 79 seat over Democrat Chris Wilson by 3,131 votes in Mahaska County and 72 percent of the total vote. Vander Linden was basically running unopposed after Wilson moved out of state to take a job, but Wilson was still able to get 2,572 votes from Mahaska County.

Vander Linden was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa and served in the Marine Corps. He says, "More than ever, Iowa needs leadership that understands the value of a dollar. Iowa families are about to experience the largest increase in property taxes in recent memory as the Legislature and Governor have pushed their spending problems onto taxpayers. I will provide steady, conservative leadership in Des Moines for Mahaska, Poweshiek Counties, and all of Iowa."

U.S. Second Congressional District - Iowa

Congressman Dave Loebsack has won re-election in Iowa's Second Congressional District with 55 percent of the total vote. But, the results for this race show Republican John Archer won the most votes out of Mahaska County with 6,226 to Democrat Dave Loebsack's 3,908.

This will be Loebsack's fourth term as a congressman. He says, "We have a long way to go and it will take Congress actually working together to make the necessary improvements. That is why I have consistently looked for ways to reach across the aisle to work with my colleagues to get accomplished what Iowans are demanding."