Former volunteer firefighter and Crookston City Council member Guy Martin appeared to have won the mayor’s race Tuesday evening, according to unofficial results from six reporting precincts.
Crookston voters had to elect a new mayor and four City Council members after former Mayor Wayne Melbye, who was chosen via special election in 2017, announced earlier this year he would not be seeking re-election.
Martin won with 23.22 percent of the popular vote Tuesday night, according to unofficial results from all six reporting precincts. Dean Adams followed closely behind with 22.78 percent of the popular vote, Clayton Briggs with 22.10 percent, Dale Stainbrook with 17.49 percent and Dana Johnson with 14.13 percent.
All mayoral candidates excluding Adams have had experience on the City Council, either as current ward members or previous representatives. Martin has represented both wards 3 and 6.
Martin said he was “very pleased” and “very happy” to have won the election Tuesday night.
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“I’ve been on the council for three terms prior to this, so there’ll be some re-learning, and also a learning curve,” Martin said. He looks forward to taking on issues he has previously talked about, such as attracting new businesses and young families to the city with more affordable housing and access to day care facilities.
“I thank the people that voted for me, and I’m excited and happy to serve the city,” Martin added.
Four newly elected Crookston City Council Members As the only candidates running for wards two and six, Steve Erickson and Cindy Gjerswold won their respective elections Tuesday night. Erickson was also the only candidate that ran for re-election.
Don Cavalier won with 63.05 percent of the popular vote in ward 4, while opponent Sharon Lewis received 35.48 percent of the popular vote.
Tom Vedbraaten won 29.10 percent of the popular vote as an at-large representative. There were four other candidates for what appears to now be his seat, including Trent Brekken, who received 25.26 percent of the popular vote; Dylane Klatt, who received 21.12 percent of the popular vote; Joe Kresl, who received 13.89 percent of the popular vote; and Kelly Shea, who received 10.38 percent of the popular vote.
