By Kim McDarison 

An incumbent and a newcomer will be seated this month on the Whitewater Unified School District Board of Education.

The board candidates advancing as top vote-getters include Maryann Zimmerman, an incumbent, who earned, according to unofficial totals, 1,636 votes, and Jeff Tortomasi, a newcomer, who earned 1,562 votes.

Also on the ballot was the name of incumbent Larry Kachel, who announced earlier this year that he was withdrawing from the race; his name, however, could not be removed from the ballot.

Some 919 voters, despite the announced withdrawal, cast votes for the candidate. 

A breakdown by county is as follows: In Walworth County, with nine precincts reporting, Zimmerman received 1,264 votes, Tortomasi received 1,245 and Kachel received 690.

In Jefferson County, including precincts within the towns of Cold Spring and Koshkonong, and wards 11-13 in Whitewater, Zimmerman received 228 votes, Tortomasi received 208 votes, and Kachel received 140 votes.

In Rock County, with two precincts reporting, including the towns of Johnstown and Lima, Zimmerman received 144 votes; Tortomasi received 109 votes, and Kachel, received 89 votes.