Rossing, Hager advance to general election for mayor; Vohs, Graham for At-Large; Zweifel, McGee for Ward 3

election-2008 

Results of today’s City of Northfield primary:

MAYOR

Mary Rossing: 1,216 – 40.30%
Paul Hager: 581 – 19.26%
Eduardo Wolle: 397 – 13.16%
David Hvistendahl: 380 – 12.60%
James Schlichting : 252 – 8.35%
Lee Lansing: 170 – 5.63%
Jon Denison: 21 – 0.70%

 

AT-LARGE

Kris Vohs: 1,247 – 46.70%
Dana Graham: 866 – 32.43%
David DeLong: 557 – 20.86%

 

WARD 3

Erica Zweifel: 322 – 53.94%
Don McGee:164 – 27.47%
Alan Lindberg: 111 – 18.59%

Comments are now open!

21 Comments

  1. John S. Thomas said:

    Mary getting 40% of the vote in a 7 way race is quite impressive!

    September 9, 2008
  2. Griff Wigley said:

    I’d agree, John. And Lansing and Denison each getting a tiny percentage is amazing.

    September 9, 2008
  3. John S. Thomas said:

    Can we do some math, and post the percentages as well?

    I think they are relevant.

    September 9, 2008
  4. Peter Millin said:

    I am happy that Lansing is out but quiet dissappointed that Mary Rossing got so many votes
    Her plattform is pretty weak and I am afraid we won’t make to much progress with her.
    I was hoping David Hvistendahl would do better.

    September 9, 2008
  5. Judy Covey said:

    John, The percentages are on the Secretary of State’s website.

    September 9, 2008
  6. John S. Thomas said:

    Here are the percentages:

    Mary Rossing:______1216__ 40.17%
    Paul Hager:——–581___19.19%
    Eduardo Wolle:_____397____13.12%
    David Hvistendahl:__380____12.55%
    James Schlichting :_252___8.33%
    Lee Lansing:______ 180___5.95%
    Jon Denison:______21____0.69%
    __________________3027___100.00%

    September 9, 2008
  7. Anne Bretts said:

    Griff, how on earth is that surprising?

    September 9, 2008
  8. Griff Wigley said:

    Thx, John. I’ve now added the mayoral percentages to the blog post.

    September 9, 2008
  9. Griff Wigley said:

    Interesting that both our straw poll and the Nfld News straw poll were pretty similar to the actual results.

    The one exception: both polls showed Hager getting 7-9% less than he actually did.

    Nfld News Straw Poll:

    Mary Rossing (31.4%, 72)
    David Hvistendahl (20.1%, 46)
    Paul Hager (12.2%, 28)
    Eduardo Wolle (12.2%, 28)
    Lee Lansing (11.4%, 26)
    James Schlichting (5.2%, 12)
    Jon Denison (7.4%, 17)

    Total votes: 229

    Locally Grown Straw Poll

    Mary Rossing (37%, 47 Votes)
    David Hvistendahl (17%, 21 Votes)
    Eduardo Wolle (16%, 20 Votes)
    James Schlichting (12%, 15 Votes)
    Paul Hager (10%, 12 Votes)
    Jon Denison (5%, 6 Votes)
    Lee Lansing (4%, 5 Votes)

    Total Votes: 126

    September 9, 2008
  10. Tracy Davis said:

    Let’s talk about it today on the radio show!

    And I’ll endeavor to remain in dead earnest on all topics so I don’t get accused of “giggling”.

    September 10, 2008
  11. Patrick Enders said:

    Griff,
    My vote swung to Paul Hager after being impressed by his presentation at the candidates’ forum. Perhaps I’m not the only one.

    Paul Hager had relatively concrete, sensible, and informed opinions on key issues of the day: restoring order and building consensus in government, the heroin problem, and prioritizing city spending. I don’t know anything about his previous tenure as Mayor, but I thought he rose above the others in the forum.

    I’m really looking forward to an election between Mary Rossing and Paul Hager, as well as ones between Kris and Dana, and Jerold and Betsey. (Sadly, I don’t get to vote for Erica or Don.) In my old town of Eau Claire, I was often forced to choose a candidate simply because the alternative was a non-starter – for example, voting for one school board candidate simply because their opponent was opposed to the very idea of public education. Instead, I now find myself faced with a more difficult choice between two positive options.

    This is new to me, and a very wonderful thing.

    September 10, 2008
  12. Peter Millin said:

    Paul Hager would have been my second choice.
    See Patrick we can agree on something..LOL

    September 10, 2008
  13. Patrick Enders said:

    Peter, we just have very different viewpoints on what we want in a president or vice president. I have no doubt that we will agree on many things on local issues, and disagree on others. If my initial positive impression of Paul Hager holds up under closer investigation, perhaps we can even work together on behalf of his candidacy.

    So who can help fill in the record for me on Paul Hager’s previous term as mayor?

    September 10, 2008
  14. Peter Millin said:

    Unfortunately I am very much a newbie to this city. Just moved here less then two years ago.

    September 10, 2008
  15. Anne Bretts said:

    Peter, welcome! Although it sometimes seems that everyone who comments has been here forever, many, many of us are relative newcomers. I’ve been here three years and have met lots of wonderful people. Do stay involved.

    September 10, 2008
  16. Griff Wigley said:

    I’ve corrected the percentages based on the SOS site. (Thx to a reader for the alert.)

    I’ve added the straw poll results for both NN and LG to my comment above.

    September 10, 2008
  17. Anne Bretts said:

    Contgratulations to all the winners, and to everyone for making this election process an example of local government at its best.

    September 10, 2008
  18. George Shuffelton said:

    I’m new to the site, not quite as new to Northfield (after 6 years). I’d second Patrick’s request for comments on Paul Hager’s term as mayor. I voted for him out of a sense that experience counted for a lot, given the scope of N’field’s problems right now. But I’m a little embarassed that I don’t know much about what Hager’s term really looked like. Anyone out there?

    September 10, 2008
  19. John S Thomas said:

    Thanks Griff… I think I fat fingered 10 votes to Lee Lansing when I was doing the calculations.

    Sorry about that.

    September 10, 2008
  20. Julie Bixby said:

    Congratulations Mary!
    Now that the primary is over I am sure we will hear much more regarding Mary’s platform. She is not only a nice person she is a strong person. Mary is not running for mayor just to be mayor. She sees a real need for change, whether it is addressing the financial state of this city and how to spend money on what is important for all, or the repairing of relationships that have gotten in the way of productivity.
    If you haven’t had a chance to talk to her personally she is often found in her store, Present Perfect, downtown.
    Julie

    September 11, 2008
  21. Stephanie Henriksen said:

    Suzanna Ciernia had a support letter for Hager and Wolle in NNews right before the primary, telling how Mayor Hager was good to work with on the Hwy 3 redesign. Check that out. You can reach her at Lifeskills Education (printing company by Grand Theater).

    I have clashed w/Hager on an occasional issue, but maintain a high regard for him. I believe Margit Johnson, former chair of the Northfield Planning Commission, wrote a support letter for Hager as well.

    September 11, 2008

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