By MaryHelen Swanson and
Patrick Tepoorten

The anti-incumbent wave sweeping the nation made a stop in Rush City Tuesday night, as Mayor Mike Skalsky and council members Jerry Janssen and David Bengtson were swept out of office. In the mayorís race, Jim Ertz returns to the head of the council once again capturing 355 votes to Skalskyís 319. Council challengers Nancy Schroeder and Nic Malchow were voted in with 407 and 348 votes respectively. In the special election to fill Bill Schneiderís seat, Jamie (Mold) Amundson wins with 483 votes.

Harris returned Mayor Rick Smisson with 297 votes over Larry Nelsonís 278, retained councilor Kathy Olson, ousted Doug Payne and added former fire chief John Pelant.

There were many close elections this year including the House seat in Dist. 17A. 195 votes separated victor Rob Eastlund from newcomer Melissa Jabas.

In the 4th Commissioner Dist. 4, Ben Montzka was sent back to the board table for another four years with 69 percent of the vote over challenger Russ Goudge, also someone not unfamiliar with the commissionerís seat.

In Commissioner Dist. 2, Rick Greene easily won over his opponent Bill Rice. Greene will now fill Rick Olseenís seat at the board table, as Rick Olseen moved on to new ventures in the Minnesota Senate.

No surprises in North Branch this election; Mayor Gloria Karsky, and councilors Amy Oehlers and Kathy Blomquist all were returned to their seats.

Joni Monk, however, challenging the mayor this year, had an admirable count at 1487, while Karsky won with 1814.
For council, Jim Vrchota trailed incumbents, but held onto 1094 votes for third place.

New folks will be going to St. Paul in 2007, as Rick Olseen ousted Sen. Sean Nienow and Jeremy Kalin defeated Lindstrom resident, incumbent Pete Nelson.

Rob Eastlund will be the only returning legislator from this area. More election results will be posted in our Nov. 15 edition.

Nessel Township
Clerk *Iskierka 341
Faber 233
Palmer 137
Scanlon 123
Super A
*Leier 531
Sutcliffe 347
Super C
*Henderson 547
Christensen 316

NB Sch. Board
*Saltis 1804
*Ekstrom 1247
*Walz 1197
*Setter 1170
Goebel 929

Co. Attorney
*Reiter 9864
Ryan 8763

Chisago Co. Comm. Dist. 2
*Greene 2072
Rice 1152

Chisago Co. Comm. Dist. 4
*Ben Montzka 2908
Russ Goudge 1272

Rush City Mayor
*Jim Ertz 355
Mike Skalsky 319
Council
*Schroeder 407
*Malchow 348
Janssen 229
Bengtson 223
Council-special
*Amundson 483
Szmanski 144

North Branch Mayor
*Karsky 1814
Monk 1487
Council
*Oehlers 1498
*Blomquist 1349
Vrchota 1094
Holmes 802
Larson 843

Stacy Mayor
*Daher 223
Aslakson 170
Council
*Avalos 187
*Olivolo 165
Sovich 154
Council-special
Schlecht, Sr. 107
*Schultz 223

Harris Mayor
*Smisson 297
Nelson 278
Council
*Olson 270
*Pelant 262
Larson 260
Payne 252

Sen. Dist. 17
*Olseen 17355
Nienow 16919
Neuman 2278

House Dist. 17A
*Eastlund 8834
Jabas 8639

House Dist. 17B
*Kalin 9629
Nelson 9425

* denotes winners

Comment from Marge Winkelman, 11/8/06

What an awesome job your team did on election night! Thanks for all your hard work! The paper is wonderful and the web site is very informative.

Marge

Comment from Tanya Leatherman, 11/16/06

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY OLD CLASSMATES IN RUSH CITY WHO WERE VOTED INTO CITY COUNCIL! GOOD FOR YOU! :)

Comment from Tanya Leatherman, 11/16/06

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY OLD CLASSMATES IN RUSH CITY WHO WERE VOTED INTO CITY COUNCIL! GOOD FOR YOU! :)

Comment from Tanya Leatherman, 11/16/06

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY OLD CLASSMATES IN RUSH CITY WHO WERE VOTED INTO CITY COUNCIL! GOOD FOR YOU! :)