Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Danford to join Howard Lake council right away



The Howard Lake City Council will have three new faces
in January.

The new mayor will be Gerry Smith, who received 613 votes,
running unopposed. He was placed on the ballot by petition after the death
of Al LePage, who had been the only candidate to file for that office.

Don Danford won the two-year council with 459 votes to
264 for Vern Kleve.

The council will appoint Danford to the position Nov. 17
because he will complete the remaining term of LePage. Other winners won’t
take office until January.

In the contest for two four-year terms on the city council,
Shelly Reddemann (467) and John Swanson (395) were elected. Incumbent Jean
Schmidt received 345 votes.

The on-sale Sunday liquor license passed by a margin of
450 to 328 votes.

There were 863 registered voters, and 178 new registrants
were recorded on election day. A total of 788 ballots were cast, giving
a 76 percent turnout.

Incumbent Mayor Charles Bush (279 votes) and Council member
John Hertzog (260) both retained their seats.

They were the only candidates to file in Waverly’s election.

The second council seat available will be filled by Pam
Henry-Neaton who received 101 write-in votes to 28 write-ins for Mary
Reardon.

There were 382 registered voters with 59 new registrations.

Waverly had an 80 percent voter turn-out with a total of
356 ballots returned.

The race for auditor/treasurer was won by Douglas Gruber
(18,224 votes) over Steven Hjelmeland (13,179). Gruber is currently Wright
County assessor.

Tom Kelly won the county attorney position with 23,318
votes to 8,757 for Bill MacPhail.

County commissioner Dick Mattson, who represents the local
area in District 5, received another term while running unopposed.

So did Commissioner Pat Sawatzke in District 2, however,
incumbent Judie Rose was defeated in District 4 by Elmer Eichelberg.

Dick Borrell of Waverly (16,203) won a three-way race with
Morris Corhouse (5,281) and Harold Peter (6,660) for District 3 Soil and
Water Conservation District Supervisor.

Gabe Davidson (14,932) won over Ron Uter (13,003) for Soil
and Water Conservation District Supervisor for District 4.

Other uncontested winners at the county level were Recorder
Marcia Lantto, Sheriff Don Hozempa, and District 2 Soil and Water Conservation
Supervisor Mark LeFebvre.

There were 43,387 registered voters at 7 a.m. on election
day, but Wright County registered 7,379 new voters. The total number of
persons voting was 37,531.

District 20B Representative Tony Kielkucki (8,618), rural
Lester Prairie, was returned to office, fending off a challenge from Mari
Pokornowski of Cokato (6,723). It will be Kielkucki’s second term.

Second District United States Representative David Minge
was returned to office over opponents Craig Duehring and Stan Bentz.

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