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Mayor Preiner re-elected, Hanegraaf and Hegland win Columbus Council
The Minnesota Secretary of State has reported 100% of the City of Columbus' ballots, which is one precinct. Mayor Jesse Preiner is running for re-election for Columbus Mayor and earned just 14 more votes than other Mayoral candidate Dave Povolny. Preiner received 1,119 votes (50.22%) while Povolny received 1,105 votes (49.60%), and 4 write-in votes according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office. The Columbus City Council had two open seats this year with five candidates vying for the spots. Current planning commission member Ron Hanegraaf received 987 votes (25.82%) and current council member Janet Hegland ran for re-election and received 911 votes (23.84%) of the votes. Candidate Jennifer Lattin received 836 votes (21.82%), Jody Krebs received 773 votes (20.23%), followed by Anson Watson who received 305 votes (7.98%), there are 10 write-in votes, according to the Secretary of State.
Preiner wins mayor, Hanegraaf and Hegland win Columbus Council
The Minnesota Secretary of State has reported 100% of the City of Columbus' ballots, which is one precinct. Mayor Jesse Preiner is running for re-election for Columbus Mayor and earned just 14 more votes than other Mayoral candidate Dave Povolny. Preiner received 1,119 votes (50.22%) while Povolny received 1,105 votes (49.60%), and 4 write-in votes according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office. The Columbus City Council had two open seats this year with five candidates vying for the spots. Current planning commission member Ron Hanegraaf received 987 votes (25.82%) and current council member Janet Hegland ran for re-election and received 911 votes (23.84%) of the votes. Candidate Jennifer Lattin received 836 votes (21.82%), Jody Krebs received 773 votes (20.23%), followed by Anson Watson who received 305 votes (7.98%), there are 10 write-in votes, according to the Secretary of State.
Senate District 31 - Cal Bahr vs. Jason Ruffalo
Update: 10:15 p.m. Republican Cal Bahr is leading soundly with 27 out of the 28 precincts for Senate District 31. Bahr has taken 63.53% of the vote to DFL challenger Jason Ruffalo's 36.39%. Bahr has totaled 24,989 votes, while Ruffalo has garnered 14,315 votes. There have been 32 write-in candidates.
Cal Bahr to see new side of the state legislature with win for Senate District 31
Update: 11:22 p.m. Rep. Cal Bahr (R-District 31B) will be sitting on the other side of the legislature in the Minnesota Senate after winning Senate District 31. Bahr, who was elected to the house in 2016, won with 63.75% of the vote. Bahr racked up 25,705 votes, compared to DFL challenger Jason Ruffalo's 14,585 votes (36.17%). Ruffalo previously ran against Peggy Scott (R, 35B) in 2020. There were 32 votes for write-in candidates. Update: 10:15 p.m. Republican Cal Bahr is leading soundly with 27 out of the 28 precincts for Senate District 31. Bahr has taken 63.53% of the vote to DFL challenger Jason Ruffalo's 36.39%. Bahr has totaled 24,989 votes, while Ruffalo has garnered 14,315 votes. There have been 32 write-in candidates.
Maefsky wins mayor, Lubke, Cusick win Scandia Council seats
The Minnesota Secretary of State's Office has reported 100% of Scandia Precincts as of 9:48 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Mayor Christine Maefsky ran for re-election un-opposed in 2022 and earned 1,759 votes (96.54%). There are 63 write-in votes. There were two Scandia City Council seats up for election and five candidates vying for the spots. The candidates who earned their spot on the council in 2022 are Michael Lubke received 863 votes (27.05%) and Jerry Cusick trailed behind receiving 793 votes (24.86%), according to the Secretary of State's Office. Lori Lavin received 715 votes (22.41%), Donald Baber received 421 votes (13.2%) and Christopher Johnson received 374 votes (11.72%).
Anderson takes House District 33A over FL council member Hanna Valento
Update: 11:38 p.m. Republican Patti Anderson will be the new House Representative for District 33A after defeating DFLer Hanna Valento with 55.41% of the vote. Anderson garnered 11,695 votes compared to Valento's 9,404 votes. Valento, who will remain in her seat on the Forest Lake City Council, took 44.55% of the vote. There were been nine write-in candidates. Update: 10:32 p.m. ...
Anderson takes House District 33A over FL council member Hanna Valento
Republican Patti Anderson will be the new House Representative for District 33A after defeating DFLer Hanna Valento with 55.41% of the vote. Anderson garnered 11,695 votes compared to Valento's 9,404 votes. Valento, who will remain in her seat on the Forest Lake City Council, took 44.55% of the vote. There were been nine write-in candidates.
House District 33A – Patti Anderson vs. Hanna Valento rsults
Update: 9:37 p.m. With 4 of 14 precincts reporting, Republican Patti Anderson leads DFLer Hanna Valento with 55.13% of the vote. Anderson has 3,023 votes compared to Valento's 2,457 votes. Valento has taken 44.81% of the vote so far. There have been three write-in candidates.
Forest Lake City Council election results
The Minnesota Secretary of State Office has reported 20% of the votes recorded for the Forest Lake City Council election. According to the Secretary of State's Office, Mayor Mara Bain is running for re-election unopposed with 1,792 votes (95.73%), there are 80 write-in votes. There are four candidates vying for two city council seats. The top two candidates are Leif Erickson who received 1,419 votes (38.19%), and Blake Roberts who received 1,301 votes (35.01%), according to the Secretary of State's Office. Following the two leading candidates is Jeffery Larson with 547 votes (14.27) and Marcus Gibbs who received 429 votes (11.54%), there are 20 write-in votes. Voting results were updated at 9:38 p.m. with one of five precincts reported.
Sen. Karin Housley wins re-election
Incumbent Karin Housley (R) will continue her work in the Minnesota State Senate after winning the race for District 33. Housley took home 52.80% of the votes with 23,092 votes, while DFL challenger Nancy McLean took home 20,624 votes, or 47.16% of the vote. There were 17 votes for write-in candidates. Update: 11:49 p.m. With...
Sen. Karin Housley wins re-election
Incumbent Karin Housley (R) will continue her work in the Minnesota State Senate after winning the race for District 33. Housley took home 52.80% of the votes with 23,092 votes, while DFL challenger Nancy McLean took home 20,624 votes, or 47.16% of the vote. There were 17 votes for write-in...
MN House District 33B results
Last updated 10:18 a.m. 11/09/2020 Josiah Hill-DFL appears to have won over political newcomer Mark Bishofsky-R in the race for Minnesota House District 33B. With 13 of 13 precincts reporting. Hill, who ran against incumbent Sen. Karin Housley (R-33) in the 2020 election, has 12,074 votes, or 53.94%. Bishofsky, who won his primary against Tina Riehle with roughly 60% of the vote, earned a total of 10,277 votes, or 45.91%.
MN House District 33B updates
Last updated 10:48 p.m. 11/08/2020 Josiah Hill-DFL is currently leading political newcomer Mark Bishofsky-R in the race for Minnesota House District 33B. With 12 of 13 precincts reporting. Hill, who ran against incumbent Sen. Karin Housley (R-33) in the 2020 election, has 10,481 votes, or 53.85%. Bishofsky, who won his primary against Tina Riehle with roughly 60% of the vote, has a total of 8,951 votes, or 45.99%.
Jeff Reinert holds seat against another challenge from Cindy Hansen
With all 18 precincts reporting, Incumbent Jeff Reinert will remain in office for Anoka County Commissioner with 57.41% of the vote. Reinert received 11,926 votes. Cindy Hansen has received 42.28% or 8,784 votes. There were 64 write-in votes. The two faced off in the 2020 general election, as well as a special election held earlier in 2020 after then-commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah left her seat for a role as Anoka County administrator. Reinert won both elections in 2020.
Chisago Commissioners set preliminary levy
The Chisago County commissioners unanimously approved a levy increase of 6.9% for the county’s 2023 budget as part of the work completed at their meeting held Wednesday, Sept. 21. At their previous meeting held Sept. 7, the commissioners were split on levies ranging between 6.9% and 5.3%. After a Budget and Finance Committee meeting on Sept. 13, the board now appears more comfortable with the larger increase. One of the...
School district merges bus routes as cancellations continue
District explores alternatives to alleviate cancellations At the start of October, the Forest Lake Area School District began assessing potential ways to cut down its 79 bus routes that each need drivers to transport elementary and secondary students to and from school every day. “It’s clear that there is a worker shortage, yet we have to find a solution. The solution clearly is not going to be finding drivers. …...
Beltz Park updates now on 3-year plan
While the Beltz Park reconstruction is still slated to begin next spring, the project will now be stretched out over three years instead of two due to financial constraints. However, many of the updates will be done within the first two years, according to the timeline presented to the Forest Lake City Council during its Monday, Oct. 17 and 24 meetings. The projected timeline as approved during the council’s Oct. 24 meeting would begin in the spring of 2023 and work through the fall of...
District fires employee for allegedly sending inappropriate photos
The Forest Lake Area School District has fired a high school staff member following an internal investigation regarding a staff member who allegedly sent inappropriate photos to a student. According to Superintendent Steve Massey, on Monday, Oct. 31 a student reported to the district that the employee allegedly sent inappropriate photos including private body parts to the student. The district began working with the Forest Lake Police Department to investigate the allegation, and fired the staff member after an internal investigation. The police department is...
Volleyball advances to section final after two wins
Forest Lake’s success continues heading into game against Centennial The Forest Lake Rangers volleyball team is heading to the section final against Centennial after two straight section wins in three sets. The Rangers finish October with a 13-2 record (21-7 overall) and have heated up at the prime time of the season. “It just took some time to mesh and to understand roles and how we get on a page...
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Forest Lake Times has been serving Forest Lake, MN since 1902. Published Thursdays by APG of East Central Minnesota with 24/7 local coverage found online at forestlaketimes.com
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