Posted: 11/6/02

Daninger tips Tschida in FL mayor's race

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

It was a squeaker in the race for Forest Lake mayor. Incumbent Ray Daninger received 2637 votes to beat out challenger Richard Tschida by just 21 votes, according to unofficial vote totals released early Wednesday morning. Tschida received 2616 votes or 39.19 percent of the vote. Daninger earned 39.51 percent of the vote.

Councilman Terry Smith, the top spender in Forest Lake city races, came in third with 1406 votes, or 21.06 percent of the 6675 votes cast.

There were 16 write-in votes in the mayorís race.

After hearing news of his victory, Daninger said he was happy to be given the opportunity to continue to serve residents of the combined city.

ìIím pleased,î Daninger said. ìI look forward to the next two years. Iím thankful to the voters.î

Daninger said, with the council, he plans to ìfinish what we startedî in terms of downtown redevelopment, airport development, recreation and other key issues in the city.

Tschida was not available for comment as of press time. Whether or not there will be a recount request due to the small percentage of defeat, is unknown.

For council, Rick Ashbach, who served as chairman and supervisor of the Forest Lake Township Board of Supervisors and was a prolific voice for a united Forest Lake was the top vote getter in the council race. Ashbach received 2993 votes-26.48 percent of the 11305 votes cast in the council election.

ìIím real grateful for all the support Iíve received,î Ashbach said.

Also elected to the Forest Lake City Council is Susan Young, who ran on a ticket with Tschida and Robert Kennedy.

Young, an employee of the city of Minneapolis, earned 2304 votes or 20.38 percent of the votes cast.

Kennedy came in third with 2139 votes. Incumbent Judy Bull, however, will not be returning to her seat. The first woman elected to the Forest Lake City council in 1980, Bull received 1872 votes.

Other totals in the city council race include 778 votes for Jim DuFour, 546 votes for Robert Holden, Sr., 461 votes for Mike Egger and 188 votes for Marco Swanson. There also were 24 write in votes.

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