Two days after the election, Kim McKay was out collecting signs from her unsuccessful run for county board. For the most part, south county residents will find the same faces on the board of commissioners.
Duluth commissioners Dennis Fink, District 1, and Joanne Fay, District 2, were both re-elected, as was Commissioner Peg Sweeney, District 5, who represents Proctor, Hermantown and adjacent townships.
Of the five commission seats up for election, voters returned four incumbents. In a close District 6 race, Paul Plesha of Gilbert was defeated by Keith Nelson of Fayal Township.
As a result of redistricting, District 6 now dips down to include Grand Lake Township, which used to be represented by Sweeney.
In sprawling District 4, which covers the northern half of the county, Commissioner Mike Forsman of Ely kept his seat.
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In District 1, Fink defeated McKay who ran on the Nopeming nursing home issue. She had been endorsed by both the Duluth Central Labor Body and AFSCME Local 66.
"I learned a lot," McKay said. "Things went good. I can't really complain about the numbers."
McKay did regret the lack of exposure for board candidates, particularly in the area of public forums. She said she and Fink never had a public debate.
McKay said the race was screwed up from the beginning with redistricting and overshadowed by other races and events.
The county's redistricting process ended up requiring an extra primary, forcing board candidates to register to run twice. She has not ruled out another run for office in the future and will continue to be active on issues that concern her.
Fay defeated Kristine Osbakken in District 2. The incumbent was endorsed by Duluth First, while Osbakken was endorsed by the Green Party, the Duluth Central Labor Body and AFSCME Local 66.
"It was a good experience, a good effort," Osbakken said. "We put out the word for the progressive cause."
She said the door-to-door response was very good, but she just couldn't get to everyone. Osbakken expects to remain politically active, either on her own behalf or working for other political candidates.
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On election night, Fay and a group of supporters impatiently watched television in a Canal Park hotel for news of her race. Fay said she was satisfied with her campaign. "I did everything I could," she said as she waited. "It's up to the voters now."
District 5 may have been the most openly partisan of the nonpartisan commission races, with the DFL backing Sweeney and Republicans supporting her opponent.
"I'm feeling like a congressman right now," Sweeney said. "I've got to run again in two years."
She spoke at the DFL election night party at the DECC, at a point in the evening when it looked like the party could still take the top state spots.
Sweeney ran for office two years ago and had to run again this year due to redistricting for a term that will end in two years, when she'll face another election. She was endorsed by the Duluth Central Labor Body and AFSCME Local 66. Knight, an active Republican, was endorsed by Duluth First and at least two former county commission candidates.
In District 4, Forsman defeated Aurora City Councilor Bill Ojala.
Results
District 1
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Fink - 6,266
McKay - 4,968
District 2
Fay - 6,484
Osbakken - 4,818
District 4
Ojala - 5,308
Forsman - 8,479
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District 6
Nelson - 6,973
Plesha - 6,672
