by Mike Knaak
Three newcomers – Emily Larson, Jen Smith and Scott Wenshau – won the Sartell-St. Stephen school board race. Nine candidates competed for three four-year terms on the six-member board.
Larson received 3,639 votes followed by Smith with 3,414 and Wenshau with 3,281. Votes for the other six candidates: Nate Crow, 3,082; Molly McCann 2,958; Katie Hilger, 2,467; Kris Lawrence, 2,017; Amanda Byrd 1,463; and Ryan K. Dale, 970.
The three winning candidates said they wanted change and accountability. Larson and Smith are founding members of Kids Over Politics, a group that for the past year has been critical of the district’s education equity effort.
Tim Elness and Jed Meyer won the race for two seats on the Sartell City Council. Elness received 3,682 votes, Meyer received 3,146, Stacy Lundeen received 2,792 and Bradley C. Gunderson received 1,579.
Mayor Ryan Fitzthum was unopposed and received 6,209 votes to win a second term.
The mayor and council members serve four-year terms.
In District 13, Republican incumbents Sen. Jeff Howe and Rep. Tim O’Driscoll beat their DFL challengers. Howe led challenger Alissa Brickman, 27,295 to 11,648. O’Driscoll won his seventh term over Melissa Bromenschenkel 12,256 to 6,092.
Senators serve four-year terms. Representatives are elected for two years.
Danita Traut and Gene Skaj were elected to four-year terms on the St. Stephen City Council. Traut received 228 votes, Skaj received 211 and third-place finisher Mike Gerdes received 197.
County officers were re-elected without opposition. Second District Commissioner Joe Perske, Auditor-Treasurer Randy Schreifels, Sheriff Steve Soyka and County Attorney Janelle Kendall will serve four-year terms.
