The Cook County courthouse was a busy place on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6. The Auditor-Treasurer’s office is election central, with Auditor Braidy Powers overseeing all the activity. Here, he checks in with Election Judges Jennifer Schultz (left) and Donna Gestel, who were counting absentee ballots.
Although it was clear fairly early in the evening of Election Day 2012 that President Barack Obama had won re-election, Cook County residents had to wait until early the next morning to learn the results of several local races in Election 2012.
County commissioner races close
In the Cook County commissioner’s race, incumbent Fritz Sobanja was defeated by challenger Garry Gamble in District 2, by only 16 votes. Sobanja earned 265 votes to Gamble’s 281. There were three write-in votes in the race.
Reached by phone the day after the election, Gamble told the News-Herald, “I am so grateful for the support and encouragement I received during this campaign journey.
“This is an amazing opportunity to put substance to my verbal commitment to encourage open communication in hopes of building mutual respect and trust between elected officials and those they serve. I am humbled by the trust people are willing to place in me to be a good steward of this opportunity,” Gamble said.
In Commissioner District 4, two candidates were vying for a first term, as incumbent Jim Johnson was not running for re-election. In that race, Heidi Doo-Kirk was elected over Rick Austin. Doo-Kirk received 427 votes to Austin’s 344. There were two write-in votes.
The News-Herald contacted Doo-Kirk the day after the election and asked if she wanted to comment on the election. Doo-Kirk said, “Thank you to everyone in District 4 and all of Cook County for all your support. I couldn’t have done it without all of you.”
City chooses Carlson as mayor again
In the city of Grand Marais, incumbent Mayor Larry “Bear” Carlson was reelected with 474 votes, defeating challenger Adam Harju with 282. There were six write-in votes for mayor.
Uncontested city council members Tim Kennedy and Jan Sivertson were both re-elected. There were 13 write-in votes for city council.
Hospital Board member reelected
In another race with a challenger, North Shore Hospital Board Member Kay Olson faced challenger Lynn Parish. Olson was the incumbent in District 4 and she retained her seat with a vote of 293 to Parish’s 279. There were two write-in votes.
The other hospital board member up for election did not face a challenger. Justin Mueller was reelected as District 2 representative with 419 votes.
School Board has two new members
Two school board members decided not to run for reelection this year, Terry Collins in District 2 and Leonard Sobanja in District 4, so there were two seats on the ballot. A candidate stepped forward for each vacant seat and won election, Ed Bolstad in District 2 and Lorrinda “Sissy” Lunde in District 4.
Legislators Bakk and Dill now the majority
As the votes were counted on election night, it became apparent that for the first time in two decades, Democrats control all three levels of power in St. Paul. District 3 Senator Tom Bakk, who was the DFL Senate Minority Leader, was reelected to serve in the newly Democratic-controlled senate, winning Cook County as well as the rest of the state. He defeated GOP candidate Jennifer Havlick.
Politics in Minnesota reported that following his victory speech at a celebration at Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown St. Paul, Bakk told the enthusiastic crowd, “They didn’t lose because they are Republicans; they lost because they are wrong.”
Minnesota Public Radio reported on a speech by Governor Mark Dayton who said he hoped the new majority would work to see that there is “a fairer tax system where the richest Minnesotans pay more of their fair share of taxes.”
According to MPR, Bakk tempered Dayton’s pledge a bit, saying that he doesn’t necessarily see tax increases on the agenda, but that tax reform is “pretty high on our agenda.”
Bakk said. “I think what Minnesotans can look for in this next session is a budget that’s balanced in an honest way and a tax system that’s more equitable for the residents of our state.”
Bakk’s House of Representative counterpart, Representative David Dill, was also reelected to his District 3A seat. Dill, who underwent a kidney transplant during his last term, easily defeated GOP challenger Jim Tuomala.
U.S. Senate and House races go to DFL
Cook County voters overwhelmingly chose U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (DFL) to serve a second term over challenger
Kurt Bills (GOP). In her election night acceptance speech, Klobuchar said, “I’ve spoken with Representative Bills. He campaigned hard to the end, and I told him that we all wish him and his family the best.
“I’m truly humbled by the trust and confidence you gave me six years ago— and that you’ve renewed with your vote today.
“…All the parades … all the phone calls … all the door knocking … all the lawn signs … all the rallies. They were all worth it. We won this election the right way. We worked hard. We were positive and optimistic about the future of Minnesota. We won because we were forward-looking. As Minnesotans, we don’t vote our fears. We vote our hopes.
“We don’t vote for rhetoric. We vote for results,” said Klobuchar.
The incumbent in the 8th District Congressional race, Representative Chip Cravaack (GOP), did not win a second term. Cravaack defeated 18-term Congressman Jim Oberstar (DFL) two years ago, but this election returned the seat to Democratic control. Rick Nolan won the 8th District Congressional race.
Nolan issued an acceptance statement, saying, “Tonight I’d like to thank Congressman Chip Cravaack for his service to our country and our district. We hold very different views on the best path forward, but despite our differences I have great respect for anyone who is willing to step up and fight for what they believe in.
“I’d also like to thank the voters of the 8th District for giving me this honor tonight. I am truly humbled by the outpouring of support my campaign has received, and I can’t possibly express my full appreciation.
“My family has been in the 8th district for six generations – I’ve raised my family here, grown my business here and I am so proud to have the opportunity to represent this great district in Washington….
“Together, we can move this country forward and I am excited about the opportunities ahead,” said Nolan.
County joins nation in re-electing President Obama
It was just after midnight when Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gave his concession speech and President Obama gave his triumphant acceptance address. Both thanked their families, their campaign workers and the American people. In his speech, President Obama said, “Whether you pounded the pavement or picked up the phone, whether you held an Obama sign or a Romney sign, you made your voice heard and you made a difference.”
As he concluded his speech, President Obama said, “I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. We’re not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and forever will be the United States of America.
“And together with your help and God’s grace we will continue our journey forward and remind the world just why it is that we live in the greatest nation on Earth.”
Cook County voters followed the national trend and reelected President Barack Obama over challenger Mitt Romney with a total of 1,993 for the Barack Obama and Joe Biden ticket and 1,170 for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.
Cook County says no amendments
Finally, Cook County followed the statewide trend and voted down both the amendment requiring voter ID and defining marriage solely between one man and one woman.
The amendment requiring voter ID received 1,153 yes votes and 2,137 no votes in Cook County. Statewide, yes votes totaled 46.33 percent of the vote, so the ballot measure was defeated.
The marriage amendment received 1,334 yes votes and 1,978 no votes in the county. Statewide the yes votes were 47.63 percent of votes cast so the ballot measure was defeated. This does not mean that same-sex marriage is now legally recognized by the state of Minnesota, but it paves the way for that eventual possibility.
Election turnout high
Cook County had a great turnout at the polls, with 87 percent of registered voters voting by mail or at the polls. Precinct turnouts ranged from 80 percent in Grand Marais East and West to a high of 93 percent in the Gunflint and Maple Hill precincts.
County staff still has some work to do. During the week following the election, election results and statistics are made official at a meeting of the county canvassing board. Until the election is canvassed, the number of ballots cast in each precinct remains unofficial.
Leave a Reply