Incumbents had a good night in Ramsey County.
Victoria Reinhardt and Mary Jo McGuire both appeared poised to keep their spots on the Ramsey County Board despite challengers in their respective District 7 and District 2 races.
With 25 of 26 precincts reporting by midnight, Reinhardt, the chair of the board, bested Kim Points, capturing 70 percent of the vote.
McGuire had 54 percent of the vote at midnight, with 23 of 24 precincts reporting. Her challenger, Sue Jeffers, garnered 45 percent.
Commissioner Blake Huffman ran unopposed to win another term in District 1.
VADNAIS HEIGHTS
Former Ramsey County sheriff Bob Fletcher won his race for Vadnais Heights mayor.
Fletcher, who serves as a city council member in the northern suburb, beat liquor store clerk and political neophyte Chuck Velasquez in the race for the city’s top seat.
He nabbed 70 percent of the vote, compared to Velasquez, who ended the night with about 28 percent.
Fletcher’s decade-long career as the Ramsey County sheriff was marked by controversy. He was ousted from the job in 2010 by Matt Bostrom. Prior to that he served on the St. Paul City Council.
Fletcher was elected to the Vadnais Heights City Council in 2014 and has spent the last two years advocating for the release of a forensic audit on the city’s handling of the failed Vadnais Sports Center.
In the city council race, three competed for two open seats.
Heidi Gunderson was the biggest vote-getter of the night, securing about 42 percent of the vote. Incumbent Craig Johnson secured the other spot with about 33 percent. Greg Urban was knocked out with 24 percent.
SHOREVIEW
Sandy Martin had another clear path to victory in Shoreview this year.
The city’s longtime mayor ran unopposed to keep the post, which she’s held since 1997.
It was a crowded race for two open seats on the city council though.
Incumbent Emy Johnson held on to one of them, capturing 28 percent of the vote. The other went to Sue Denkinger, who garnered 24 percent. Trailing behind them were Steve Solomonson with 19 percent, John Hakes with 17, Douglas Blomberg with 7 and Michael Divine with 5.
ARDEN HILLS
Incumbents were victorious in Arden Hills, with Brenda Holden and Dave McClung fending off challenges from Steven Loyal Jones, Tania Dreon, and Dan Burns for two open seats on the city council.
Holden garnered the most votes with about 31 percent, followed by McClung with 30, Burns with 16, Dreon 15 and Jones 8.
Steve Scott won a seat on the council in the city’s special election. He beat his opponent, Nicholas Tamble, 63 percent to 36.
ROSEVILLE
Two spots were up for reelection on the Roseville City Council and incumbents protected both of them.
Jason Etten and Lisa Laliberte hung onto their spots against challenger Wayne Groff.
With all precincts reporting, Etten garnered 38 percent of the vote, followed by Laliberte with about 37. Groff finished the night with 24 percent.
NORTH ST. PAUL
Incumbents Tom Sonnek and Jan Walczak won another term on the North St. Paul City Council.
They beat challengers Douglas Edge and Bob Bruton.
Walczak led the night, securing 31 percent of the vote. Sonnek garnered 30 percent followed by Bruton with 22 and Edge with 16.
MOUNDS VIEW
Carol Mueller will serve as the next mayor of Mounds View.
She beat her opponent, Shauna Bock, 66 percent to 33 percent, to secure the seat.
Mueller is a city council member in Mounds View. She will replace outgoing mayor Joe Flaherty.
Two incumbents, Gary Meehlhause and Sherry Gunn, ran unopposed to keep their seats on the council.
LITTLE CANADA
Mayor John Keis ran unopposed to serve another term in the city.
Andrew Henderson lost in his battle against incumbents Michael McGraw and Rich Montour to nab one of the two open seats on the
McGraw garnered, 39 percent of the vote, Montour, 34 percent and Henderson 25.
LAUDERDALE
Lauderdale City Council member Mary Gaasch ran unopposed in the city’s mayoral race.
She will replace outgoing mayor, Jeffrey Dains, we won one of two seats up for grabs on the city council Tuesday. The other went to Kelly Dolphin.