Early local election results

The voters in the Chisago County Press readership area for the most part returned incumbents to elected office, in balloting Tuesday this week. From Eighth District Congressman Peter Stauber to the school board races— the electorate in Chisago County was in the same frame of mind as national polling seemed to indicate in returning Donald Trump to the White House for another term, granting incumbents another try.

For the Chisago Lakes School Board challenger Aaron Olson came in last of four candidates for three seats. Longtime Board members Lori Berg, Brenda Carlson and Jeff Lindman were seated with 6,295, 5,242 and 7,282 votes respectively. Olson got 4,689.

North Branch School Board had no challengers in this cycle—and its three incumbents whose seats were expiring all will return: Tim MacMillan, Heather Naegele and Shelley Johnson.

In North Branch Mayor Kevin Schieber defeated challenger Lorraine Moeller, with his 3,173 to Moeller’s 2,351 votes. There were 48 write ins. Incumbent Robert Canada won his council seat back and newcomer Jeff Goulet was also elected, 1,859 to 2,280. Jim Ibinger was the third highest vote-getter in the contest for two council seats with 1,635.

Jeremy Dresel in Chisago City, who took over the mayor post upon the mid-term death of Bob Gustafson, won the mayor seat with 1,873 votes. Challenger Travis Petschl got 922 votes.

To fill Dresel’s council seat and the expiring seat— Mark Anderson got 1,567 votes and incumbent Marie Rivers got 1,363. Candidate Grant Prentice got 1,048 votes.

Mayors in Center City, Lindstrom, Taylors Falls, and Wyoming were not challenged and all return with huge majorities of vote tallies. In Lindstrom there will be one new council member, Mike Hilber sr. won defeating Dan Hames, looking for his first council term. Hilber had 1,331 to 997 for Hames.

Likewise in Center City, Sally Swanson will be entering her first term with. 163 votes to fill an empty seat and incumbent Mark Wolcott got 222 votes. Barry Moe was the third highest vote-getter at 104.

With Anne Neu Brindley not seeking re-election to the state House her seat went to Max Rymer R-North Branch. He was challenged by Mary Jo Murphy of Taylors Falls. Rymer took 16,768 (a House district wide tally not just Chisago County) to Murphy’s 8,983.

The City of Taylors Falls Council had two incumbents not seek re-election, so it will be Carol Schumann with 289 votes and Robert Bayer with 222 to step up in January. Candidates John Denney got 162 and Molly Irish got 184.

See ELECTION/11.

The newly merged City of Stacy had Mayor Mark Utecht returned getting 1,730 votes and with no challenger Two city council persons, Dennis Thieling and Michael H. Hoppe will be on the newly configured (township and urban precincts) council. They were running unopposed.

The Shafer mayor was not up for election. The two council seats were won by Marilyn Anderson with 228 and Rebecca Henderson with 199. Patricia Kowalski got 175 and there were 70 write ins.

Wyoming council remains unchanged with the incumbents winning their seats back— Linda Nanko Yeager with 2,090 votes and Brett Ohnstad with 2,143— while contender Jeff Allen got 1,892. Mayor Lisa Iverson was not opposed but there were 165 write ins.