Mike Brown wins fourth term as Grand Forks mayor

• Grand Forks mayor Michael Brown, left

Grand Forks mayor Michael Brown performs "Blowin' in the Wind" with Pete Moss, a.k.a. Greg Norman at a gathering at the mayor's house Tuesday as they wait for election results. (Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald)
• Grand Forks mayor Michael Brown is congratulated by staff

Grand Forks mayor Michael Brown is congratulated by staff at a gathering at the Hub Bar in downtown Grand Forks after he was re-elected to a fourth term. photo by Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald

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Grand Forks Mayor Mike Brown has won a fourth term, beating Ward 2 City Council member Tyrone Grandstrand, 69-31 percent.

A total of 11,892 votes were cast, according to complete but unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s office.

Brown become Grand Forks first three-term mayor in 2008 and is beginning his fourth four-year term.

Grandstrand, a 2011 UND graduate, was running in his second race in the city after winning his council seat in 2010.

Brown, 61, is an obstetrician and gynecologist for Altru Health System who entered politics when his house was put on the wet side of the city dike.

Grandstrand, 26, got his start in politics as UND’s student body president.

Aggressive race

Throughout the race, Grandstrand challenged Brown’s commitment to the job of mayor, saying he left day-to-day management of the city to his department heads and was not engaged enough to plan for issues facing the city. He promised to treat the office as a full-time job and create strategic plans for city departments.

Brown won his first race in 2000 when he beat Mayor Pat Owens and council member Eliot Glassheim in 2000 in a race he did not expect to win.

Tuesday he said the results were recognition of his work in office.

“It means people value what we have in place,” he said.

He told supporters gathered at his house the win was a relief.

“It’s humbling,” he said. “The more we perform, the more people expect.”

Grandstrand said he was proud of his efforts since he declared he would run in January and issues he raised in the campaign. “I worked really hard, knocking on doors when there was snow on the ground,” he said. “We poked a little hole in the idea that everything is great.”

Grandstrand was with a group of friends, family and campaign volunteers at ‘l Bistro Tuesday night.

“Congratulations to Mayor Brown,” he said after results were announced.

Grandstrand ran an aggressive campaign, distributing hundreds of yard signs and raising $4,051 in contributions above $200, according to the statement filed with the city clerk June 6. Brown’s June 4 statement showed he had raised $1,450.

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