One of Wayne Boucher's first actions as the freshly sworn-in mayor of Hermantown tonight was to break a tie vote over who would fill his vacant seat.
Two candidates, both former Hermantown councilors, volunteered for the post: Pete Stauber, who served from 2001-04, and Andy Thielen, who narrowly lost a bid for re-election in November.
Boucher appointed Stauber, a lieutenant with the Duluth Police Department, to the open seat. Stauber had decided not to run for re-election in 2004.
Thielen was one of three candidates who ran for two open seats on the council; he came in third behind incumbent Darlene Koski and challenger John Geissler.
Councilors said that both candidates would be an asset to the council. Two motions, one to appoint Stauber to the seat and another to appoint Thielen, both failed on tie votes. As allowed by statute, Boucher then made the appointment, and Stauber was sworn in moments later.
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Boucher, who had served on the council with both Stauber and Thielen, said both candidates were highly qualified but that he chose Stauber in part because "he made me a better councilor."
