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photo by Brie Cohen
Mike Lee gets a phone call shortly after hearing the results Tuesday at the Freeborn County Government Center. Lee will face Linda Tuttle in the election for Freeborn County Commissioner District 5.
Tuttle, Lee win District 5
Race has no incumbent running
Published Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Former Freeborn County Recorder Linda Tuttle and caretaker Mike Lee will advance to the general election Nov. 4, both vying for the Freeborn County Commissioner District 5 seat being vacated by Mark Behrends.
“I look forward to the next couple of months,” said Tuttle, who works at Albert Lea Abstract.
Behrends announced in January he will not be seeking re-election.
Lee squeaked ahead of the third-place candidate by a mere four votes.
Chad Severtson, right, shows Mike Lee, left, the numbers for Freeborn County Commissioner District 5 as Severtson was leaving and Lee was coming into the Freeborn County Courthouse after the all the results came in. Lee came in second place with 206 votes.
A total of 1,041 people voted in the District 5 primary. Tuttle came out on top with 290 votes, while Lee had 206. U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector Tony Pestorious had 202 votes, business owner Curtis Smith had 185 votes and business manager Chad Severtson had 158 votes.
Severtson said the two candidates advancing did well in the forum.
“I hope they take note and follow through with what they’re promising to do,” he said, adding commissioners work for the people to grow the community.
Lee said if elected he will do what the people say, “because they’re the boss.”
Severtson was the only commissioner candidate waiting outside the Freeborn County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office on Tuesday night for election results. Lee stopped in near the end to see the results.
Linda Tuttle
Albert Lea Ward 6 Precinct 1 had 334 total votes for the District 5 primary. Smith received 44 votes, Lee had 93, Severtson had 57, Tuttle received 82 and Pestorious had 58.
Albert Lea Ward 3 Precinct 1 had a total of 571 votes, with 124 going to Smith, 86 to Lee, 83 to Severtson, 180 to Tuttle and 98 to Pestorious.
Pickerel Lake Township saw a total of 136 votes for the District 5 primary. Of the total, Smith had 17, Lee had 27, Severtson had 18, Tuttle had 28 and Pestorious had 46.
“I’m absolutely thrilled, of course,” Tuttle said. “I want to thank all of the citizens of Freeborn County and the city of Albert Lea who voted for me and who have supported me. I look forward to the continued campaign and going to the general election.”
She said she looks forward to the challenge with Lee.
Photo by Brie Cohen
Chad and Nicky Severtson look over the results to see how Chad did in the Freeborn County Commissioner District 5 race. Chad placed last with 158 votes.
“I feel kind of humbled and honored,” Lee said, adding thanks to all the people who supported him. “We’ll be talking again.”
Tuttle said she congratulates her fellow candidates on their efforts, because it takes a lot of heart and dedication to run for public office.
County Auditor-Treasurer Dennis Distad said the voter turnout for the primary Tuesday was 23.89 percent throughout the county, which was up from the previous primary that had 20 percent.
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Comments
Posted by lovelylady (anonymous) on September 10, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am really surprised that Tuttle did so well. All of the other canidates were out there earning votes. Lee, Severtson, and Pestorious really had their hearts in this election and gave it their all. It is sad to see Severtson and Pestorious lose out when they worked so hard and would have been such great commisssioners. I think that Mike Lee would have been their earlier but he was working.
Posted by lovelylady (anonymous) on September 10, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
From what I understand, although Tuttle use to work at the courthouse, she left because she wanted more money, and because she was having workplace related conlicts. If she gets elected I bet she will push for pay increases which will increase our taxes. Lee has said repeatedly that he is not in support of commissioners getting a pay raise because of funding and tax related issues. If you look at the amount of money that each canidate has spent and then compared it to their success rate in this primary it is very clear that Lee is Great with budgeting and getting results.
Posted by iamwoman (anonymous) on September 10, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Linda, I am all of you because you didn't waste my time showing up at my door and leaving me useless information. I like to form my own opinions and that will win your vote for me.
Posted by ortros (anonymous) on September 10, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Mike!
When someone knocks door to door it takes time and effort. It also shows character and motivation. Anyone can just set back and hope for votes. When you meet someone face to face and actually communicate with the person, it presents trust and a feel of who this canidate is. Hiding behind doors does not show character. I believe the people in Freeborn want a friendly neighbor hand shake. It brings out warmth and trust. Mike and others took time out of their day to build a relationship with the Freeborn County people. I applaud to this character. People in Freeborn need this fine quality. Also, the publisher may not of realized Mike Lee was working. We can read this in the above comment. This strength shows Mike has family values and works hard.
Posted by lovelylady (anonymous) on September 10, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I Am Woman
So what I am hearing from you is that you don't want to be an INFORMED voter. You form your opinions based on personal bias and not on the facts. You want a canidate who doesn't care enough about you or our community to give you and our neighbors the opportunity to be an educated voter.
Nobody is forcing you to talk, nobody is forcing you to even answer your door, nobody is forcing you to waste your time. The canidates are giving you options and opportunity. If you don't want that, well, that is your choice. I just don't understanding why you are complaining about it. We are pretty lucky to live in a country where we have these opportunities.
Posted by wingo (anonymous) on September 10, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What do you mean waste of time??? How else will you get to know the candidates better? You get face to face and can look into their eyes and ask the questions that no one else will ask. Give me a break!
Posted by iamwoman (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have lived here all my life and I don't need someone knocking on my door and bothering me to know who I am going to vote for. I DON'T need to meet them face to face to form opinions. You people that have to meet them to form opinions live in a very closed world. GIVE ME A BREAK!
Posted by dinomac (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lovelylady,
What about Curtis Smith, you didn't mention him... didn't he run a pretty good race???
Posted by ortros (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am woman,
I am trying to figure out your comment. By opening the door to a potential candidate and meeting them in person in your mind is closed minded? The honest truth is Linda and Mike are the running two candidates. Their styles of being elected are quite different. What you find strong, I find weak. It is a matter of opinion. I have seen a lot of strong actions on Mike’s part. I have not heard you write Linda's strengths. Your voice cries that you do not like door knocking. Please come up with something stronger. It is old and hardly anyone is going to agree with you. What has she put out in the community that attracts you to her? All the others candidates seemed to of applied them selves. This is what I struggle with her. Where and what is her ambition for the community?
Posted by tkk07 (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You people need to get a life or a job!!
Posted by royalbouquet (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go Linda, we need more like you in local government.
Posted by lovelylady (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 8:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dinomic: yeah you are right, I expected Smith to come out ahead of Tuttle too. Honestly, I expected her to come in in last place-I was flabberghasted.
woman-I guess we will have to agree to disagree, you value your opinions, and I value the canidate who values me and our community. You can stop being so angry now.
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