Anoka voters to choose between council member, mayor's brother

By MARIA ELENA BACA

Once again, Anoka residents will have a choice between a comparatively seasoned politician and a 20-something upstart.

The race for City Hall will pit first-term City Council Member Phil Rice, 48, against Erik Skogquist, 25, brother of the outgoing controversial mayor. Both candidates promised a more collaborative relationship with City Council.

With all of the precincts reporting Tuesday night, challengers Andrew Heidemann, 23, and Frank Bodine, 70, failed to get enough votes to advance to the general election.

Turnout across the county averaged only about 10 percent, with spikes of 28-32 percent in Anoka and 15 percent in Ramsey. Both cities had contested mayoral races.

In 2000, Bjorn Skogquist, then 22, defeated incumbent Mayor Pete Beberg. But Erik Skogquist is quick to say he's not his brother, who is running for County Board.

"We may have the same last name but I have my own opinions, and my own viewpoints," he said, adding that he's learned from his older brother's successes and snags. "Being a [younger] brother, I've picked up lots of stuff from him in life. If something works, go with it and if I see something hasn't worked, try something different."

"We should be focusing on the standard things," he said, citing streets and housing. "We'll get back to that larger stuff in the long run."

Rice also said he wants to have more collaboration with the City Council than the current administration, but he added he doubts his opponent will be able to deliver.

"He is very similar to his brother in his style and in his mission," Rice said. "He can say he's not, but I don't believe it."

He also said he believes maturity, if not age, is a real issue in the race.

A mayor, he said, "is to be spokesperson for the city, an ambassador. I think people look for maturity in an ambassador."

In Ramsey, it was a mayoral primary without an incumbent, after Mayor Tom Gamec announced his intention to retire. Terri Cleveland, a member of the city's Planning Commission, and Bob Ramsey will proceed to the general election, defeating Keith Kiefer and Bruce Bachler.