Effingham’s former police chief was elected mayor on Tuesday, defeating the one-term incumbent and another challenger.

A lone incumbent will remain on the Effingham City Council following Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial results.

Jason Rippetoe remained Altamont’s mayor after defeating challenger Clarence J. Pagel on Tuesday by a 64-36 percent margin. The incumbent collected 245 votes and the challenger had 137, according to unofficial results.

Effingham County voters on Tuesday again rejected a 1 percent sales tax that would have benefitted schools. The margin was 54.6 percent to 45.4 percent – or 3,465 against and 2,884 in favor, according to unofficial results.

Incumbent Daniel Zerrusen will be joined by newcomers Jane Summers and Bernard Hartke on the Teutopolis Village Board, according to unofficial results of Tuesday's election.

Newcomers Mike Cunningham and Angie Kronewitter narrowly defeated another newcomer, Tara Higgs, for two seats on Effingham Park District Board of Commissioners, according to unofficial results. Kronewitter netted 1,182 votes; Cunningham, 1,176; and Higgs, 1,031.

Six candidates are seeking three open seats on the Beecher City village board in Tuesday's election.

Two candidates are challenging two incumbents for three open seats on Teutopolis Village Board in Tuesday’s election. Village Trustee Joseph Schumacher is not running.

Seven candidates who are on the ballot and a write-in are seeking four seats on the Stewardson-Strasburg school board in Tuesday’s election.

A question on Tuesday's ballot for residents of Stewardson-Strasburg Community Unit School District 5A asks:

Five candidates are seeking four open seats on the Altamont Community Unit 10 school board. They answered questions about the race from the Effingham Daily News.

A retired veteran is challenging the incumbent mayor of Altamont in Tuesday’s election.

The five candidates seeking four open seats on the Altamont city council answered questions from the Effingham Daily News.

EFFINGHAM — Only one incumbent is among five candidates vying for seats on the Unit 40 school board.

EFFINGHAM — Three Effingham mayoral candidates responded to questions at an Effingham County Chamber of Commerce forum this week. Topics included housing concerns, pension costs, business incentives and opening dialogue with citizens in the community.

EFFINGHAM — Most candidates seeking a seat on the Unit 40 school board are concerned about lengthy period of contract negotiations, the retention of teachers and staff, and a decline in morale in the school district.

Candidate forums are planned in the next several days to give area voters a chance to learn more about the topics in the community and those seeking election before the polls open April 2.

An estimated $5.3 million could be generated annually for public school districts in Effingham County, based on 2018 sales, if voters pass a referendum on April 2.

The Effingham Unit 40 school board voted Monday to try again on the countywide school facility tax in order to lessen the burden on property tax owners for district’s building needs.

EFFINGHAM — Former Effingham Police Chief Mike Schutzbach has joined the race for Effingham mayor.

Scott Ealy, an Effingham lawyer, announced via social media Friday that he will file to run against Effingham Mayor Jeff Bloemker in the April 2019 municipal election.