by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
As her three young daughters smiled proudly, Sarah Jane Nicoll was sworn in as the newly elected mayor of Sartell just before the first city council meeting of 2015 – on Jan. 12.
Also sworn in was Pat Lynch. Incumbent council member David Peterson was sworn in earlier because he had to be at a military meeting Jan. 12.
Nicoll is the first female mayor in the city’s 103-year history. Before being elected, running unopposed in the Nov. 4 election, she had served as a member of the council. Her daughters who witnessed her take the oath of office are Ava, 7; Grace, 6; and Claire, 5.
A Sartell High School graduate, Nicoll (nee Klocker) is a stay-at-home mother who operated an insurance agency for several years. She is married to David Nicoll, a volunteer firefighter for the Sartell-LeSauk Fire Department.
Lynch, who was a former council member, decided to compete again after several years of being off of the council. He, too, won in the Nov. 4 election. He is a business owner in Sartell. Peterson is an attorney and long-time member of the Minnesota Army National Guard.
At the Jan. 12 council meeting, there were three members present: Nicoll, Lynch and Amy Braig-Lindstrom. Present via computer transmission was council member Steve Hennes, whose voice could be heard in the council chambers and whose face was visible on a laptop computer in the room. At the time of the council meeting, Hennes was in Florida.
Braig-Lindstrom welcomed Lynch and Nicoll as members of the newly reconstituted city council. Lynch thanked his supporters, saying he was proud to serve again. Nicoll, at times choking back tears, said, “I’m excited about the next four years. It’s an exciting time. It’s an honor and a privilege to serve as mayor. Thanks so much.”
