For the first time in “several years” 22 candidates were voted in as precinct committee officers during the Aug. 7 primary election, according to unofficial results from the Jefferson County Courthouse.

“PCO elections are significant, and people don't understand them,” said Bruce Cowan, former chair of the Jefferson County Democrats. “The two major parties in the county each have a central committee, that has a certain authority under law. Each central committee is made up of the PCOs elected in the primary elections on even-numbered years, and each PCO's term is two years.”

The PCO job description is to “define and manage all (central committee) operations. This includes voting on officers, policies, plans and activities. The site states PCOs are also expected to “actively participate in committees, as well as in executing plans and conducting activities.”

Those elected into the position Tuesday night were as followed: District 101 Ann Waldron, District 102 Ben Rutherford, District 103 Chelsea Pronovost, District 104 Marty Gilmore, District 201 Patricia Jones, District 204 Beth Stroh-Stern, District 301 Gail Lucas, District 302 Jean Ball, District 304 Linda J. Brewster, District 306 Bethel Prescott, District 500 Linda Karp, District 502 Gerald Lasser, District 505 John Fabian, District 700 Cynthia Koan, District 702 Gary Engbrecht, District 703 Gary B. Larson, District 704 Jonathan S. Bakin, District 706 Bruce Cowan, District 707 John N. Collins and District 709 John Austin.