In Anoka's mayoral race, Council Member Phil Rice narrowly defeated Erik Skogquist, the 25-year-old brother of the departing mayor. Unofficial results showed Rice beating Skogquist by 70 votes.
Incumbent mayors fared well around the north metro, with those handily winning election including Mike Gamache in Andover, Gary Peterson in Columbia Heights, Scott Lund in Fridley and Tom Ryan of Blaine, who ran unopposed.
Rice, 49, had decided to run for Anoka mayor as he was finishing his first four-year term on the council and noted a lack of experienced candidates.
Skogquist's brother, Bjorn, had won his first two-year term at age 22 and Tuesday was running for Anoka County Board, but he lost, too.
The brothers had been named recently in a defamation suit by a developer, who alleged that Erik Skogquist had intimated at a June City Council meeting that the developer was dishonest. Tuesday night, Erik Skogquist said he believed the lawsuit might have hurt his chances of becoming mayor.
"It's kind of touchy, because it's still pending," Skogquist said. "I have a feeling that had something to do with some people's opinions.
A margin of 41 votes or fewer is needed to trigger an automatic recount in the race, said Rachel Smith, Anoka County elections supervisor. A losing candidate could pay for a recount, but Skogquist said the voting system is reliable, and he didn't think he'd want one.
Rice is a Pumptec salesman who previously worked as a crisis counselor at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids.
In Ramsey, the new mayor is Bob Ramsey, a 44-year-old small-business owner. He beat Terri Cleveland and write-in candidate Keith Kiefer after longtime Mayor Tom Gamec didn't seek reelection.
Ramsey said his priorities include attracting businesses to the struggling Town Center project. The project was intended as the city's crown jewel that would attract development to pay for the spacious new City Hall and parking ramp, which now require a $1.25 million payment each year on bonds.
But the project foundered in 2006 after the developer went bankrupt and died soon thereafter. Ramsey said the city needs a new interchange on Hwy. 10 and an overpass over railroad tracks to carry shoppers to the Town Center.
In Mounds View, Joe Flaherty, who was on the City Council, beat Barb Haake with 54 percent of the votes to become mayor. Two-term Mayor Rob Marty is retiring.
Joy Powell • 612-673-7750
