River Falls puts Boles on top

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Pierce County judge candidate Joe Boles had roughly a 6-1 vote advantage in River Falls over Bob Loberg to finish first in the three-way primary contest Tuesday. The other candidate, Pierce County District Attorney John O’Boyle, finished a distant third and was eliminated. Boles, an attorney from River Falls, and Loberg, an attorney from Ellsworth, will square off in the April 6 general election. Current Judge Robert Wing is retiring after 25 years on the bench.

Boles collected 2,026 Pierce County votes for judge; Loberg had 1,759 and O’Boyle just 327.

A huge disparity in River Falls pushed Boles into the No. 1 spot. Boles got 636 River Falls votes to Loberg’s 106. O’Boyle had 57.

In Ellsworth, which is smaller than River Falls, Loberg was the clear choice with 323 votes to Boles’ 174 and O’Boyle’s 73. Loberg also defeated Boles easily in Prescott.

For a more detailed primary voting breakdown and a story about fundraising for the judge candidates, please see the Feb. 17 print edition of the River Falls Journal.

In other primary election voting: