Sparks edges out Baldus in county’s Fourth District

Published 1:07 am Wednesday, November 9, 2022

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By a slim margin, challenger Dan Sparks looks to have won a seat on the Mower County Board of Commissioners in the Fourth District.

Unofficial election results have Sparks with 1,175 votes over incumbent and current Board Chair Jeff Baldus with 1,021.

Sparks, a former state senator, returned to politics this year for a run at the Board of Commissioners.

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In the night’s only other contested race, incumbent Jerry Reinartz defeated local business owner Jason Duffy by a count of 1,642 to 1,389 in the Third District.

Both John Mueller in the First District and Michael Ankeny in the Fifth District were running unopposed.

Sheriff Steve Sandvik

Sandvik wins second term as sheriff

Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik easily won a second term by commanding 83.80% of the vote (10,834 votes) over challenger, Albert Lea Police officer David Huse, who gathered just 15.92% of the vote (2,058).

Unopposed

Both Mower County Attorney Kristen Nelsen and Auditor/Treasurer Scott Felten ran unopposed for their seats.