Maria Regan Gonzalez on Tuesday was elected mayor of Richfield, becoming the first Latina mayor in Minnesota history.
Regan Gonzalez, 33, who ran unopposed, is a two-year City Council member who decided to run for mayor after incumbent Pat Elliott announced he wouldn't seek re-election this year.
"I feel very honored," Regan Gonzalez said before the polls closed. "It's just another opportunity for more people to see themselves as a leader."
"I'm really hoping that it's not an anomaly," she added, saying she hoped her election sets "a strong foundation for more diverse leadership in our state."
Mary Supple was elected to an at-large seat on the Richfield City Council, replacing Michael Howard who was elected to the state House.
Development at issue in Edina
In Edina, discontent over future development appeared to contribute to the defeat of a City Council member.
Winning the two council seats were Ron Anderson, a real estate executive, and incumbent Kevin Staunton. The other incumbent, Robert Stewart, came in third and lost his re-election bid.
Several challengers, including Anderson, had argued that the city is growing too fast and that the council wasn't listening to residents' views on proposed projects. They promised to slow the rate of growth if elected.
Other west metro contests
• In Plymouth, City Council Member Jeffry Wosje was elected mayor and businessman Nick Roehl was elected to succeed Wosje on the council. Incumbents Ned Carroll and Jim Prom were re-elected.
• In Eden Prairie, City Council Member Ron Case was elected mayor over fellow Council Member Brad Aho, a seat left open after the city's longest serving mayor, Nancy Tyra-Lukens, decided not to seek re-election. Kathy Nelson and Mark Freiberg were elected to replace them on the council.
• Maple Grove Mayor Mark Steffenson and Osseo Mayor Duane Poppe each won re-election.
