Rodewolt becomes tax commissioner; Calhoun elected state court judge

By Barbara Augsdorfer, editor of the Effingham Herald

Melissa Calhoun and Daniel Rodewolt ended their hard-fought campaigns, winning their respective seats in the June 18 runoff election in Effingham County.

The race for tax commissioners was tight all evening as votes were counted. Rodewolt was only 230 votes ahead, while 16 districts were counted less than two hours after the polls closed.

When all the votes were counted, Daniel Rodewolt had 1,438 (54.8%) to Kelly Hoffner’s 1,183 (45.1%).

take the position of tax commissioner. Calhoun received 1,623 (56.8%) in favor of removing Judge Stephen Yekel as state court judge. Yekel received 1,232 (43.1%) of the votes.

Early voting took place from June 10 to 14. According to the Effingham County Elections and Registration Office, 1,124 voters cast ballots last week.

Another 1,762 voters cast ballots on Election Day, for a total of 2,886 or 6.25% of the county’s registered voters.