Campaign season has ended in Manhattan, likely a welcome sight for many after a long, contentious battle between two slates, Mayor Mike Adrieansen’s team and Dave Beemsterboer’s Manhattan First slate, each vying to be the village’s next leaders.
Disagreements often played out online and, at times, during public comments at the village board meetings.
In the week leading up to Election Day, Manhattan First trustee candidate Paula Gibbs levied a flurry of accusations online, alleging “financial mismanagement,” “staff and HR issues,” and “police payroll problems,” among other issues within the village, casting doubt on the leadership capabilities of Adrieansen and Trustee Justin Young, who was running for re-election.
Manhattan’s Village Administrator Jeff Wold and Manhattan Chief of Police Ryan Gulli refuted all accusations in public statements online, stating the allegations were “entirely false.”
Gibbs’ post was the latest of several accusations and subsequent refutations by village officials that took place during campaign season.
Ultimately, the April Fools’ Day election brought out 1,036 voters for day-of voting, with 444 having taken advantage of early voting and 142 having cast their ballot by mail, according to the County Clerk Annette Parker’s website.
Adrieansen declared victory over Beemsterboer, a sitting trustee, in the quest to remain the village’s next mayor Tuesday evening after all precincts had reported.
“I want to sincerely thank everyone who supported my team and me during this election,” Adrieansen said in a statement to The Vedette.
“Manhattan’s future is bright. We’ve made great strides during the past few years, but there is still more to do. I look forward to continuing our work together to move our village forward,” Adrieansen said.
Adrieansen had received 1,253 votes to Beemsterbeoer’s 369 — a significant victory with 77.25 percent of the votes in favor of Adrieansen.
Beemsterboer congratulated Adrieansen on his win on Facebook, wishing him “luck and nothing but the best.”
Overall, Adrieansen’s slate dominated the Manhattan First slate, with wins across the board.
Young, part of Adrieansen’s team, saw the most votes of all trustee candidates with 1,079 votes.
Young had been falsely accused of unethical behavior by the Manhattan First slate. Manhattan First candidates had printed on their website and Facebook posts that Young was the subject of an ethics complaint and an investigation pending with the State of Illinois – except that was not the case.
The alleged unethical behavior stemmed from the village printing a sign for Young’s baseball team, who had volunteered to help park cars during the Labor Day Party at Round Barn Farm. No state investigation occurred, but an internal investigation occurred at Beemsterboer’s behest.
The village’s law firm, Spesia and Taylor, investigated the incident and provided an eight-page examination of the alleged wrongdoing, ultimately clearing Young of any unethical behavior. According to FOIA documents obtained by The Vedette, the investigation cost $7,503.50. The accusation spurred widespread discussion online and hundreds of comments on multiple posts.
Also on Adrieansen’s slate, Clint Boone and Jennifer Bahena both won seats on the board, with Boone receiving 978 votes and Bahena receiving 931 votes – each receiving more than double the votes received by any trustee candidate on the opposing Manhattan First slate.
“The newly elected officials bring a mix of experience, community involvement, and fresh perspectives to the board, all committed to strengthening services, supporting local businesses, and preserving Manhattan’s small-town charm,” Adrieansen said of the newly elected trustees.
On Beemsterboer’s Manhattan First slate, trustee candidates Tom Biscan and Mike Naughton ran on their experience and legacy as former trustees. Naughton also served as one of Manhattan’s former mayors.
However, their experience wasn’t enough to secure a comeback.
Biscan received just 396 votes, and Naughton collected 419. Biscan previously ran for re-election in 2021, but lost. Naughton chose not to run in the last election. Political newcomer Gibbs’ 355 votes did not secure her a seat on the board.
Heather Falkenthal, who did not run on a slate, garnered 215 votes, the fewest of all candidates.
The clerk’s race was unopposed, with Becky Bouck succeeding Clerk Shelly Lewis, who did not seek reelection.
Manhattan School Board Results
In the Manhattan School Board election, voters likely were surprised no candidate had pulled a petition for the vacant two-year seats on the board, leaving five candidates to battle it out for the four four-year spots.
Board member Scott Mancke did not seek reelection; Donald Knoll, appointed last summer, also did not seek election.
School board candidates Barb Steffen, Emily Wesel, and Brian Anderson secured enough votes to keep their seats; Anderson had been appointed last year, while Steffen and Wesel were elected.
Anderson and Knoll had been appointed to take the positions vacated by Ryan Gulli, who left to become the Manhattan Chief of Police, and Cheryl Donovan, who left to become the school district’s curriculum director. School Board President John Burke was not up for re-election this cycle.
At the time of publication, only five votes separated candidate Erica Aultz from incumbent Terry Doyle, with Aultz having 911 votes and Doyle receiving 916.
Undoubtedly, every vote will count to determine who wins the last seat.
As long as ballots were postmarked by Election Day, mail-in ballots have until April 15 to be received and counted. Until then, it’s uncertain whether Doyle will remain on the board or if Aultz will edge him out.
It’s worth noting that whoever loses could be appointed to one of the vacant two-year positions on the District 114 Manhattan School Board of Education, though that decision remains in the board’s hands.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.