Candidates for south metro county commissions were vying for seats with an eye on taxes, transit and service.
In Scott County, 11-year County Commissioner Barbara Marschall defeated Chad Lemair, a seven-year veteran of the Prior Lake City Council, who argued that county government needs to tighten its belt.
Over the course of the campaign, the two District 4 candidates traded barbs about the county's approach toward the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community's desire to put hundreds of acres of land into federal trust. Marschall charged that Lemair has acted on the proposals despite what she characterized as a family conflict of interest, while Lemair responded that his family has not had a financial interest in the proposal.
Also in Scott County, Tomo Wolf of Savage defeated Prior Lake police investigator Chris Olson for the seat vacated by Commission Chairman Bob Vogel of New Market. Both candidates promised to work for a leaner county budget.
They had sparred over relations with the Mdewakanton Sioux, with Wolf taking a harder line than Olson.
In Dakota County, three incumbents held their seats.
"I think it shows people are happy with the way Dakota County is being run," said incumbent Joe Harris of Hastings, who defeated challenger Doug Riles, also of Hastings. "We try to spend our citizens' dollars wisely in the programs that we offer. People can say it's time for a change. I've heard that for several elections now, but for the most part people have been satisfied with what I've been doing for them."
In the race for the open Dakota County Board seat left by retiring District 5 Commissioner Mike Turner, Burnsville City Council Member Liz Workman defeated Vicky Turner, Mike Turner's niece by marriage and a member of the Burnsville Planning Commission.
Elsewhere in Dakota County, incumbent Thomas Egan defeated Scott Holm, also of Eagan, in District 3, and incumbent Willis Branning, of Apple Valley, defeated Paul Des Lauriers, of Rosemount, in District 7.
--Maria Elena Baca • 612-673-4409
