Andover council member elected mayor; current mayor elected county commissioner

There's a shift in power in Andover.

Current Mayor Mike Gamache was narrowly elected last week to the Anoka County Board as City Council member Julie Trude was elected even more narrowly to replace him.

Gamache did not seek re-election, in order to run for the County Board. In that race, he edged out former state Sen. Debbie Johnson, 51 percent to 48.

The Andover mayoral race was even tighter. Trude pulled in 50 percent of the vote, while her opponent, Council Member Sheri Bukkila, got 49 percent, a 66-vote difference.

Bukkila remains on the council; her term ends in 2016, as does Mike Knight's. Joining them and Trude on the five-person council will be James Goodrich and Val Holthus, who were elected last week.

As the Andover returns were coming in on the Minnesota Secretary of State's website, Trude was on edge.

Following the results at her home with family and supporters, she was behind Bukkila with nine of 10 precincts reporting. She called the night a "nail-biting time."

Trude, who is an attorney, has served on the council for more than 14 years. She decided to run for mayor after Gamache announced he was seeking the County Board.

She was also a member of the Mounds View City Council.

Trude said that apart from addressing requests for more trails, she doesn't plan to make big changes.

"I'm so excited," she said. "I told people I want to be the fun mayor. I'm going to enjoy the job."

Gamache also watched the election results with friends at his home, and also was on pins and needles.

The first precinct results he saw were from Andover, which made him "feel pretty good." The second were from Coon Rapids, which he lost.

"It was a little surprising because I did so much door-knocking," he said.

Gamache, who has been Andover's mayor for 14 years, won all the precincts in his town, but lost all in Coon Rapids and Fridley.

But he said, "it showed in the end with all the experience in Andover, people in Andover know me and what I stand for … it helped carry me through."

Gamache said that as commissioner he will try to get residents from Coon Rapids and Fridley on his side as he "gets work done."

"I believe I can hit the ground running, and still ease into things," he said. "I'm excited and glad the election is over."

Karen Zamora • 612-673-4647