Former mayor wins Buffalo Center election

Buffalo Center will have a new mayor and a new council member in the new year, as voters cast their ballots for change on Tuesday. Former eight-term mayor John Davids will return to office for his ninth term as mayor, as voters chose him over incumbent Mayor Troy Armstrong by a vote of 247-39.

In the race for city council, recent council appointee Nicholas Holland won his first full term in office with 162 votes, while the other seat up for election goes to former councilman Rick Hofbauer, who received 156 votes. Incumbent Pete Paulson fell short of reelection with 138 votes, and other candidates receiving votes included Janet Jutting with 52 and Jenell Sachs with 45.

One incumbent is also out on the Thompson city council, where newcomers Wayne Landheer and Scott Flo will take office. Landheer received 60 votes, followed by Flo with 59 votes for the two seats up for election. Incumbent Troy Fleener came up short of reelection with 54 votes. Thompson Mayor Dan Swearingen won election with 96.55% of the vote, as he ran unopposed.

In Rake, four incumbents won reelection, including Mayor Louise Hagedorn and council members Phil Benn, Melissa Duve and Ronald Johnson. Each candidate ran unopposed and received 24 votes.

Residents in Lakota elected a new mayor and a new council member on Tuesday, as well as two incumbent council members. Nathan Heidecker will serve his first term as mayor, as he garnered 54 votes while running unopposed. Incumbent council members winning reelection are Jonathan Kitzinger with 38 votes and Debra Steven with 35 votes. The third council seat up for election in Lakota goes to Paul Hagedorn, who won as a write-in candidate with 39 votes.