Dick Lang defeated incumbent Mower County 4th District Commissioner Len Miller in Tuesday's elections.

Lang received 1,411 votes compared to 1,294 for Miller, according to unofficial results. That's a 52 to 37 percent vote margin.

The 4th District includes the city of Austin's 3rd Ward.

Lang edged Miller, 592 to 525 in the 3rd Ward's 1st voting precinct. In the ward's 2nd voting precinct, Lang continued his edge over the incumbent by a 819 to 769 tally.

It gave Lang only a 117 vote margin.

Four years ago, Lang lost to Miller by 40 votes in a bid to secure the 4th District seat on the county board.

"I knew it would be close," Lang said. "Running against an incumbent is always tough."

Lang credited his "growth in city government" with helping him to upset the incumbent.

Lang, an Austin businessman, served six years as an Austin 3rd Ward council member.

Winning the 4th District seat on the county board means Austin Mayor Bonnie Rietz will have to appoint a successor to fill Lang's unexpired term as a council member. That will take place sometime in January 2003, when winners in Tuesday's mid-term elections take office.

The 3rd Ward situation is similar to that in the city's 1st Ward, where incumbent council member Wayne Goodnature will leave that position to take office in January as the city's new At Large council member.

Dick Chaffee, the incumbent At Large council member, lost a bid for re-election to Goodnature Tuesday.

In addition, there will be another semi-new face on the council.

Dick Pacholl, who served 12 years on the council, only to lose a re-election bid eight years ago, was returned to a 2nd Ward seat on the council Tuesday, when he defeated Jeff Kritzer.

Miller has served two 4-year terms as the 4th District's representative on the county board.

He and Lang are long-time DFL Party activists, who had close ties until a falling out four years ago, when Lang first ran for Miller's county board seat.

"I'm totally disappointed," Miller said. "It means the end of my life as a county commissioner, but, as they say, when one door closes, another opens."

When the 2002 campaign season started, Lang came out swinging. He attacked Miller for "living it up on taxpayers."

In a campaign flier, Lang alleged that Miller collected an inordinate amount of per diem, mileage, meals and lodging reimbursement and other monies in addition to his salary.

Miller countered by saying his travels were all official business and done at the request of fellow county officials, who wanted Mower County to have a presence at the sate level.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com