Carver County sticks with Olson

Jim Olson easily defeated challenger Derek Lee, the police chief in Olivia, Minn., by nearly 30 percentage points.

Olson, a 27-year veteran with the Sheriff's Office, said crime in Carver County has declined 11 percent since he became sheriff. Other accomplishments included implementing a drug take-back program and integrating emergency management services operations into the Sheriff's Office, said Olson, 55.

Lee, was running a third time; he lost to Olson in 2010 and unsuccessfully ran against his predecessor in 2002.

Lee, a former sergeant in the sheriff's office, criticized Olson's management, pointing out that the department paid more than $1 million in overtime last year. Issues that surfaced in the campaign included staff turnover, budget concerns and monitoring registered predatory offenders. Lee also cited a 2013 survey of Sheriff's Office employees in which almost 85 percent of the respondents said they had considered leaving in the past two years, with about 45 percent faulting the quality of management. He also said he was concerned about high employee turnover.

Chanhassen mayor and council

Changes in city government are ahead in Chanhassen, where a new mayor and two new council members were elected.

Deputy Mayor Denny Laufenburger won the mayor's race, beating former Council Member Mark Senn, and George Murray, who did not actively campaign.

Laufenburger will succeed Tom Furlong.

Eight candidates ran for the two council seats. Dan Campion and Elise Ryan were the top two finishers, defeating Peter Adolphson, Andrew Aller, Jim Boettcher, Brad Karels, Michael Leonard, and Thomas Wilson.

Minnetrista mayor and council

Minnetrista's elections followed a year of political turmoil — the resignation of the city's longtime mayor, the firing of its city administrator and sharp factional differences over plans for a new water treatment plant. Council Member Anne Hunt, appointed mayor in April after Cheryl Fischer resigned, did not run for mayor or City Council.

Lisa Whalen, who served on the council from 1999 to 2010, won the mayor's race with the promise of bringing "ethical and honest conduct back to the council." She edged out Mark Vanderlinde, a current council member and Sherri Sturm, an actuary.

"Minnetrista needs leaders that will be respectful, have vision and guide us as we continue to grow," Whalen said on the campaign trail.

Two council seats were open. Planning Commissioner Patricia Thoele and Pam Mortenson won the most votes out of a field of five.

SHANNON PRATHER