November 10, 2016 at 3:58 p.m.
Voters support incumbents in area races
Voters support incumbents in area races
The Chisago County Board remains the same with the three incumbents returned to office. Chisago Lakes area commissioner George McMahon defeated his challenger Tamara Cook by about 60 percent to 40 percent. Mike Robinson, representing the north end of the county, beat Eileen DeYoung by about 70 to 30 percent. Rick Greene, for the county’s mid-section, won over Mark Osland by about 53 to 40 percent.
Water & Light
The citizens in North Branch were asked to vote on abolishing the water and light utility and the vote was about three-to one to NOT abolish the utility.
The early total was 1,412 yes to 3,528 NO.
In North Branch council races-- Mayor Kirsten Hagen Kennedy was returned to office in North Branch defeating Mark Schloer 2,750 to 1,918.
The city council races appear to have seated Jim Swenson with 2,681 and 1,819 votes for Kelly Neider, who are newcomers. Incumbent Theresa Furman lost with 961 votes. Peter Schaps also lost with 931 votes and Joel McPherson got 1,249 votes.
The race in the local senate district was open due to the incumbent Sean Nienow failing to win party endorsement. Newcomer Mark Koran won the seat with 23,983 to Tim Nelson’s 18,392.
In the area’s state legislative races, Brian Johnson was returned in House Dist.32A getting 12,928 votes. Challenger Paul Gammel got 7,651 votes.
The other Chisago County House member Bob Dettmer, who represents the area in the lower corner of Chisago and Forest Lake region of Washington County, won easily over his challenger. Likewise Karin Housley won re-election to the senate seat for this chunk of Chisago County south of Shafer and including Washington County.
The balloting for the House Dist. 32B seat will be subject to a special election February 14, Valentine’s Day.
Anne Neu and Laurie Warner will be on that ballot, due to this week’s Nov. 8 ballot being ruled invalid because the incumbent falsely stated his residence. Warner and Bob Barrett were printed on the ballot this week as it was too late to delete their names, but the results don’t count.
Lindstrom Mayor Keith Carlson was unopposed.
The city council will have a new member in Kevin Stenson, who got 1,358. Incumbent Council member Joe Wishy passed away before the election could be held-- but still got the next highest vote total with 558. Third place went to Gerald Carlson with 548. It will be up to the council if they will consider an appointment. Also incumbent William Schlumbohm won with 366. Other candidates were Anthony Heggerston with 291, John Harnetty with 305.
There will be a new mayor in Wyoming. Lisa Iverson, currently a city council person, defeated incumbent Eric Peterson 2,023 to 1,765.
The council races ended up seating incumbents Linda Nanko Yeager with 1,690 votes and Joe Zerwas won his seat again with 1,488. The other totals are Roger Elmore with 958 votes, Alex Bulmer 719, Tammy Liledahl 529, Gregory Nelson 573 and Bradlee Karan 198.
Center City returned Mayor Larry Houger with 191 votes to challenger Jill Behnke, who got 158 votes.
City Council members Mark Wolcott was returned to office with 212 votes and Scott Anderson got 155, with Cory Spencer close enough for a possible recount request at 149 votes.
Chisago City did not have the mayor’s seat on the ballot. Two incumbents Marie Rivers with 1,266 and Jeremy Dresel 1,340 won re-election. Challenger Travis Petschl got 912 votes.
In Shafer there was no mayor term up for election, but a vacant seat was filled by lone candidate Terry Smith.
Taylors Falls also had incumbents running and no one challenging Mayor Mike Buchite.
Lent Township held its first full-blown fall elections, having recently switched to November General balloting instead of March voting. Incumbent Rick Keller won with 837 to Andy Zuecher’s 598. And, Troy Nelson won Seat D with 1,263 votes. Incumbent Carolyn Cagle was unopposed and got 1,280 votes.
The North Branch and Chisago Lakes School Boards also were on the ballots. In Chisago, incumbent Lori Berg got 5,290 votes, incumbent Brenda Carlson got 4,780 and Jerry Vitalis got 4,641 to be seated in their posts again. Challenger Jim Green was next up with 4,322 and Adam Wojcik got 3,048.
North Branch School Board welcomes back Tim MacMillan with 4,468 and newcomer Darryl Goebel 3,897. The remainder of the field was: Shari Breezee with 3,469, Miranda Michaud with 3,766 and 158 write-ins.
In a special vote for a vacant seat on the Board the winner was Sarah Grovender with 4,059 to Barb Boelk’s 3,052.
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