Jessica Foster
Staff WriterThe field of 14 contenders for elected office in the City of Forest Lake narrowed to three victors after votes were tabulated Wednesday morning.
Terry Smith was the victor in the mayor's race, receiveing 2746 votes.
Smith, who was defeated in his bid for mayor in the last election, said he was looking forward to serving.
"I'm honored for the opportunity to lead and serve as mayor," Smith said early Wednesday morning.
Filling the two seats on the city council will be former Forest Lake Township Supervisor Dick Tschida and former Forest Lake City Councilwoman Judy Bull. Tschida earned 3316 votes; Bull took 2684.
Bull, who was the first woman elected to city council in the 1980s now will be on the first city council with two women. Councilwoman Susan Young was elected in 2002.
"I want what's best for the whole city," Bull said. "I want to go forward in a positive spirit.
Tschida, who ran for mayor in 2002 and lost in a tight race, said he, too, is looking forward to serve.
"I always feel you need to look as moving forward," Tschida said. "I'm looking forward to whatever it's going to take to straighten out some of the issues we've got."
It was a race that seemed to have every Tom, Dick and, well, Terry on the ballot.
John Tom Lynch, who had served on the city council, came in second place in his bid for mayor, earning 2412 votes. Lloyd Nelson came in third with 1788 votes.
Though she did not campaign, Michelle Hagert managed to get 1321 votes, beating out four men who actively campaigned--Tom Anderson (1061), Jerome Balsimo (671), Eric Langness (510) and Ron Schaffer (555).
Bo Bogotty, came in third to miss a seat on the council. He earned 2254 votes. Running a strong fourth in the race in his first bid for elective office was Gregory Ochs. He collected 1950 votes in the five city precincts.
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