Flip of a coin decides Jerome precinct race
JEROME - A coin flip to break a tied race for precinct committeeman brought out a crowd Monday morning at the Jerome County Commissioners' Room.
A coin toss decides the winner of the Republican precinct committee race in Jerome County's Northwest Precinct
Cy Lootens, Jerome County clerk, flips a coin to see whether Jesse Human, right, or Brian J. Smith, middle, will be the Republican precinct committeeman in Jerome County's Northwest Precinct on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at the Jerome County Courthouse.
The coin went up, flipped off the hand of County Clerk Cy Lootens, and when it came down "tails," Jesse Human was named the winner.
State statute calls for a coin toss to decide tied races, and in this case, it was a 75-75 tie in the May 19 primary elections between Human and Brian J. Smith that created the situation.
Magic Valley has seen its share of coin flips, and precinct committeeman races seem to be where the action is.
There was also a 75-75 tie in a 2012 Twin Falls County precinct race between Thomas Lowther and Don A. Zuck, with Lowther winning the coin toss.
A coin toss decides the winner of the Republican precinct committee race in Jerome County's Northwest Precinct
Pictured is the coin that was used to determine the Republican precinct committee race in Jerome County's Northwest Precinct on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at the Jerome County Courthouse. Jesse Human and Brian J. Smith tied with 75 votes in the Republican precinct committee race in Jerome County's Northwest Precinct.
In 2010, the Republican precinct committeeman seat in Buhl was settled by a coin toss, and in 2009, a coin toss broke the tie in the Wendell mayor race, the Times-News reported.
Breaking a tie is a special situation that seems to require a special coin.
Lootens used a commemorative coin he purchased during Idaho's first Republican caucus in 2012.
"I tried to think of a coin to use other than just a quarter or something similar and remembered I had that in with some keepsakes," Lootens told the Times-News. "I dug it out the other day to use it."
Twin Falls County Clerk Kristina Glascock used a 1971 half-dollar from her daughter's coin collection when she tossed a coin to decide the tied race in 2012.
The coin flip is serious as it decides who will serve in an elected position, but its unusualness brings a little humor.
"I'm going to let it hit the floor and we're going to chase it," Lootens said as he prepared to flip the coin. "We are going to look real silly on TV."
A coin toss decides the winner of the Republican precinct committee race in Jerome County's Northwest Precinct
Jesse Human, right, and Brian J. Smith talk to the county commissioners before a coin toss on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at the Jerome County Courthouse. Jesse Human and Brian J. Smith tied with 75 votes in the Republican precinct committee race in Jerome County's Northwest Precinct.
The coin didn't stray far after landing on the floor, fortunately not rolling under a desk or other furniture, and Human was declared the winner. There were handshakes, and County Commissioner Charlie Howell thanked both for their interest in politics.
A coin toss decides the winner of the Republican precinct committee race in Jerome County's Northwest Precinct
Jesse Human and Brian J. Smith tied with 75 votes in the Republican precinct committee race in Jerome County's Northwest Precinct. A coin toss would decide their fate.
Human said he just wanted to pitch in where he could, and one of his roles will be to get out the vote among people living in his precinct.
"I'm glad they have a way to solve it easily," Human said of the coin flip.
And when it comes to coin flips, "you win some and you lose some."
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