Leyton Recall Election Moves Forward

Voters in the Leyton School District will get to decide on two board positions.

In a season that has been at times contentious and other times justified, signatures were submitted to the Cheyenne County Clerk seeking the recall of Board President Suzy Ernest and Board secretary Roland “Rol” Rushman. Ernest and Rushman were elected in the May 2020 election.

In January 2021, board members Anne Rexroth and Galen Bartling resigned from the board. During the Jan. 22 meeting, the 4-member board voted in favor of retaining John Selzer and Simmons Olsen as the school attorney.

The board received five applicants for the two board positions with one rescinding his application before the board met. Sam Schumacher and and Lisa Carter were chosen to fill the open seats.

District Superintendent Chris Geary was placed on administrative leave and Charles Bunner appointed as the interim superintendent. In April, the Nebraska Board of Education reported that “the complaints filed against Christopher Geary have been resolved and have been dismissed with the issuance, and acceptance, of a nonpublic sanction pursuant to 92 Nebraska Administrative Code...” The result of the board's decision is Geary kept his certified status.

Geary was reinstated in early May.

A recall petition was started and signatures submitted to the Cheyenne County Clerk in September with 15 days to verify signatures. County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh confirmed in October that 138 signatures were approved for Ernest and 148 for Rushman. The board then sued the Fiegenschuh as county clerk and the county commissioners approved special counsel. Judge O'Gorman ruled in favor of the signatures and the election is scheduled for January 11.

See page B9 for sample ballots.