Eden Prairie voters brought back Nancy Tyra-Lukens to the mayor's office, while voters in Richfield rejected a challenge by a longtime former mayor.
Tyra-Lukens, who said party endorsements had no place in municipal elections, won over Republican Party-endorsed Jon Duckstad.
She will succeed Mayor Phil Young, who was investigated for expense statement irregularities and decided not to seek a second term. Tyra-Lukens was mayor from 2002 to 2006.
Young, Duckstad and Council Member Brad Aho were all elected in 2006 with Republican Party endorsement. They routinely voted together as a council majority, with a priority on controlling city spending.
The election of Tyra-Lukens and two City Council members -- incumbent Kathy Nelson and former Council Member Sherry Butcher Wickstrom -- shifts the majority to new officeholders.
In Richfield, incumbent Mayor Debbie Goettel won a second four-year term, warding off a challenge by Marty Kirsch, who was mayor for 16 years before Goettel beat him by 900 votes in 2006.
In Edina, incumbent Joni Bennet and newcomer Josh Sprague were elected to open seats on the Edina City Council.
Brooklyn Park Mayor Steve Lampi and Brooklyn Center Mayor Tim Wilson handily won reelection. Incumbent mayors Christine Lizee of Shorewood and Nick Ruehl of Excelsior also held off challengers. But Long Lake Mayor Randy Gilbert was defeated by challenger Tim Hultmann.
In Orono, Lili McMillan won over James Murphy to become the city's new mayor.
Incumbent mayors faced no opposition in many communities, including Plymouth, Maple Grove, Chanhassen, Chaska, Minnetonka Beach, Mound and Blaine.
Voters of Deephaven authorized the city to issue liquor licenses and to allow the sale of liquor on Sundays.
Laurie Blake • 612-673-1711 Mary Jane Smetanka 612-673-7380
