Schmitz edges RockVam
Webster winsBy KEVIN SWEENEY Journal Editor
Article Photos
NEW ULM - City voters elected Charles Schmitz, a retired New Ulm Public Utilities Gas Department supervisor, to the position of New Ulm City Councilor-At-Large position Tuesday.
Schmitz outpolled incumbent Fourth Ward City Councilor Kenneth RockVam with 2,875 votes (43.19 percent) to 2,646 votes (39.75 percent).
Write-in candidate Rick Howk played a big factor in the race with 1,110 write-in votes out of 1,136 write-ins cast.
"It makes me feel real good - great!" said Schmitz. "I appreciate all the people who voted for me," he said. "I'm going to do my best listen to their views and do my best to work for them," he said.
Schmitz had just gotten a congratulatory call from RockVam, who remains on the council as the 4th Ward councilor.
"I told him I'll be happy to work with him for the next couple of years, you bet," said RockVam.
Howk's campaign had focused on breaking up the "good old boys" network.
Asked if this had hurt his campaign more than Schmitz, RockVam said he wasn't sure. "When you're on the council, people like change," said RockVam.
"But (Howk) ran a good campaign, and I can't complain. Like I said, I'll be happy to work with him."
Howk could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
In the First Ward race, incumbent Councilor Ruth Ann Webster was re-elected with 810 votes to 644 for challenger Denny Waloch.
"We gave it our best shot," said Waloch. "I look forward to being active in the city of New Ulm."
Webster said she was very impressed with her opponent.
"I think the nicest thing about this campaign was getting to know Denny Waloch," said Webster. "I think he's a great addition to the city, and I hope the mayor has his phone number when it comes time to make appointments to the city's important commissions."
"I wanted to serve another term, and I'm happy to be re-elected," she said. "It was an honor and a pleasure to run against someone I came to respect, and I hope to get to know him better in the future."
In the Second Ward, Todd Olson was re-elected. Running unopposed, he received 1,296 votes. There were 17 write-ins.
In the Third Ward, where no candidate had filed to be on the ballot, Les Schultz had 358 out of 444 write-in votes cast, and is the winner. He was the only announced write-in candidate.
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Stavros
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11-05-08 8:31 AM
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Imagine the letters to the editor Howk will write now. Prepare for the deluge.
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