Late-Cloud County Community College Trustee Jim Koch Wins Re-Election Four Months After Passing

The late-Jim Koch received 549 votes, according to the Cloud County Clerk's Office, winning re-election to the Cloud County Community College Board of Trustees, four months after he passed away.

Koch, who also served as a member of the Cloud County Community College Foundation Board, was nearing the end of his first term on the Board of Trustees.  Koch had recently refiled for a second term when he passed away on July 8, 2023 at the age of 73.

In addition to his role on the College Board of Trustees, Koch also previously served on the USD 224 school board, Clyde Area Foundation, a trustee for the Woods Charitable Trust, Clyde Public Building Commission, Cloud County Health Center Board of Trustees, Kansas State University Alumni Association Board, Kansas State University Intercollegiate Athletic Council, President of North Central Kansas Catbacker Club, Concordia Chamber of Commerce - Ag Division Chair, National Farmers Organization, and Kansas Bankers Association.  He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church including the Parish Council, St. John’s the Baptist Catholic Church including the Finance Council, and Knights of Columbus Council #1999.

There was no mechanism to remove Koch's name from the ballot or to replace him.  Since voters decided to re-elect Koch posthumously, the Cloud County Community College Board of Trustees will have to appoint someone to serve in his place.

Incumbent Richard Hubert and newcomer Kevin Pounds also won seats on the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, November 7th.  Hubert, who was nearing the end of his first term on the board after first being elected in 2019, received 834 votes.  Pounds, a former Instructor of Social Sciences at Cloud County Community College, was the top vote-getter with 1,085 votes.  Pounds, who is currently serving his fourth and final term on the USD 333 Concordia Board of Education, will replace Trustee Bruce Graham who chose not to seek re-election.

Cloud County Community College Board of Trustees Race:
Kevin Pounds - 1,085 votes (37.73%)
Richard Hubert - 834 votes (29.0%)
Jim Koch - 549 votes (19.09%)
Write-In Votes - 408 votes (14.19%)