AMERICAN FALLS — Power County Republican incumbents swept their primary races Tuesday, with both the county sheriff and a commissioner scoring victories.

Power County Sheriff

Appointed Sheriff Kasey Kendall won the three-way Republican primary for Power County sheriff Tuesday, claiming the top spot by a wide margin over two challengers following a contentious race.

Kendall received 943 votes, or 70.01 percent, to Jesse Johnston's 268 votes, or 19.90 percent. Michael Porter finished third with 136 votes, or 10.10 percent.

Kendall, a 20-year veteran of the Power County Sheriff's Office who was sworn in as sheriff on March 2 following the retirement of Sheriff Josh Campbell, will advance to the November general election as the Republican nominee.

Johnston, a decorated Army veteran and paramedic who had made transparency and accountability at the sheriff's office central themes of his campaign, finished a distant second.

Porter, a retired detective sergeant with 28 years of experience at the King County Sheriff's Office in Seattle, drew the fewest votes in his first bid for local office.

There were no Democrats in the race.

Power County Commissioner District 2

Incumbent Kryst Krein held off challenger Chet Taylor Tuesday, securing the Republican nomination for Power County Commissioner District 2.

Krein received 876 votes, or 64.70 percent, to Taylor's 478 votes, or 35.30 percent.

There were no Democrats in the race.

American Falls School District Plant Facilities Levy

American Falls School District voters rejected a 10-year plant facilities levy Tuesday night, falling short of the 55 percent supermajority required under Idaho law for plant facilities levies to pass.

The levy failed with 658 votes in favor, or 51.53 percent, to 619 votes against, or 48.47 percent — more than three percentage points below the threshold needed for approval.

The levy would have funded school lighting, heating and maintenance equipment, starting at $695,564 in its first year and rising to $887,736 by its final year, with an average annual cost of $788,528. The district built in a 6 percent annual increase to account for inflation.

The measure would have cost taxpayers an estimated $44 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value and would have replaced an expiring plant facilities levy.

Rockland School District Special Bond

Rockland School District voters rejected a $3.795 million special bond Tuesday night, falling far short of the 66.7 percent supermajority required under Idaho law for bond approval.

The bond failed with 188 votes against, or 65.51 percent, to just 99 votes in favor, or 34.49 percent.

The bond would have funded building renovations and construction of a Career Technical Education and agriculture building, as well as a football field with a track and new lighting. The measure would have cost taxpayers an estimated $592 annually per $100,000 of taxable assessed value.