Local 2012 election is in the books

The 2012 election is over. Nationally, President Barack Obama was re-elected to lead the country for another four years. In Minnesota, democrats gained majorities in both the Senate and the House and the public voted down both proposed Voter ID and Marriage Amendments. Locally, several closely contested races will bring new leadership to municipal and county governments come the new year.

In Granite Falls, Mayor Dave Smiglewski, Council Member At-Large Scott Peterson and Ward I (west Granite Falls) representative Joe Fagnano were re-elected to the city council while write-in candidate Sarina Otaibi bested long-term councilman and fellow write-in candidate Bill Miller.

The outcome was less dramatic for the Clarkfield City Council which had no contested races and two spots open for write-in candidates. Here, Mayor Gene Kockelman was re-elected to his second term as Mayor while Dave Biermaier was also chosen to reprise his council role. Taking the place of departing council members Francis Staab and Bob Schlenner are two write-in candidates, Scott Vold and Erin Crosby.

The Yellow Medicine East School Board had five candidates vying for four seats. All four incumbents –– Jane Hagert, Tim Opdahl, Steve Zumhofe and Grant Velde –– were re-elected leaving challenger, Mark Hoeper, the odd man out.

In Yellow Medicine County, District 1 (Echo and Wood Lake) board representative Greg Renneke topped Joe Rohlik to retain his spot on the Yellow Medicine County Board, while fellow commissioner incumbents Louis Sherlin, Ron Antony and Gary Johnson also carried the day, with only Sherlin running opposed. Winner of the District 2 (west Granite Falls) seat that has been vacant for the past year following the death of commissioner Dick Wambeke was John Berends over Mitch Brovold in a nail-biter.

Also extremely close, was the Chippewa County District 3 (east Granite Falls) contest which saw Granite Falls resident Dave Nordaune defeat incumbent commissioner Dennis Anderson.

The new Legislative District 16 and 17 was evenly split by Republicans and Democrats. Senate District 16 and House District 16A saw GOP incumbent Senator Gary Dahms and Representative Chris Swedzinksi, defeat Ted Suss and Al Kruse, respectively, while in Senate District 17 incumbent DFL Senator Lyle Koenen and Representative Andrew Falk overtook former District 13 Senator Joe Gimse and Tim Miller, respectively.

Election results:

YME  school board:

Tim Opdahl      2,488

Grant Velde      2,467

Steve Zumhofe 2,266

Jane Hagert      2,010

Mark Hoeper    1,279

GF City Council Ward I

Joe Fagnano       691

Sarina Otaibi       214    (write in)

Bill Miller             87   (write in)

Craig Opdahl          3    (write in)

Vern Vosberg          2    (write in)

GF City Council At Large

Scott Peterson         1,203

Granite Falls Mayor

Dave Smiglewski    1,328                   

Clarkfield City Council

Mayor

Gene Kockelman      348

Special Election

Dave Biermaier        301

Council write-ins

Scott Vold        95

Erin Crosby        60

Jana Flattum Sukow   45

YMC

District 1

Greg Renneke      626

Joe Rohlik           399  

District 2

John Berends        517    

Mitch Brovold      417  

District 3

Gary Johnson        517

District 4

Ron Antony          1,041

District 5

Louis Sherlin           645

Tim Stone           453

Chippewa Co.

District 1

Matt Gilbertson          618

Galen Rud               581

District 2

Jeff Lopez               718

Jonathan Frikke         475

District 3

Dave Nordaune         640

Dennis Anderson       593

Senate District 16

Gary Dahms              20,917

Ted Suss                   18,495

House District 16A

Chris Swedzinksi       10,982

Al Kruse                     8,361

Senate District 17

Joe Gimse                  17,350

Lyle Koenen               21,621

House District 17A

Tim Miller                  8,956

Andrew Falk             10,489