A familiar figure in Austin political circles is returning to action.

Wednesday, July 19, 2000

A familiar figure in Austin political circles is returning to action.

John O’Rourke, the former long-time mayor of Austin, filed for the First District Mower County Commissioner seat held by Richard P. Cummings.

Wednesday was the last day for filing for the year 2000 elections.

Cummings is the senior member of the Mower County Board, having served longer – 20-plus years – than any other commissioner.

Cummings’ district is largely rural with Lansing, Udolpho, Red Rock and Waltham townships, plus the cities of Mapleview, Brownsdale and Waltham and a small portion of the city of Austin’s First Ward.

O’Rourke was elected mayor after the Austin labor dispute and served until retiring from office to turn the mayor’s seat over to Bonnie Rietz.

Other city of Austin filings include:

Mayor: Bonnie Rietz, incumbent.,

Council Member At Large: Dick Chaffee, incumbent. Arnold Lang.

First Ward: Neil Fedson, incumbent. Wayne Goodnature. (Fedson was appointed to fill an unexpired term).

Second Ward: Roger Boughton, incumbent. Peter Christopherson, Garry Ellingson. (Boughton was appointed to fill an unexpired term. The filings of three candidates means there will be a primary election for this seat on the Austin City Council Sept. 12).

Third Ward: Dick Lang, incumbent.

Austin Utilities Board

One two-year term: Frank Lorenzen. (This is the term filled by Thomas C. Baudler after the death of his father, Richard Baudler.)

Three four-year terms: Thomas C. Baudler, Paul Johnson, Larry Pfeil.

Mower County

In addition to the First District seat on the Mower County Board, incumbent Ray Tucker, Dexter, is up for reelection.

Tucker represents 12 townships and eight municipalities in the eastern half of Mower County.

He has no opposition.

James Gebhardt and Robert Goetz have filed for reelection to the Mower County Soil and Water Conservation District’s board of supervisors.

However a third SWCD board vacancy attracted no candidates.

 

Legislative seats

State Senator Pat Piper (D-Austin) filed for another term representing Senate District 27.

Grace Schwab, Albert Lea, a Republican, also filed for the seat.

State Senator Kenric Scheevel (R-Preston) filed for another term representing Senate District 31.

Dave Blanchard, a DFLer, also filed for the senate seat.

State Rep. Rob Leighton (D-Austin) filed for his fourth term in the House.

He will be challenged by Jeff Anderson, an Austin Republican, who also filed for the seat.

State Rep. Greg Davids (R-Fountain), filed for another term in the Minnesota House.

He will be opposed by Al Hein, a Mabel Republican, in the race for House District 31B.