Red Wing voters elected former City Council Member Dan Bender as mayor Tuesday in a special election.
Former Mayor Dennis Egan had resigned in April, after he took a job with the frac sand industry and faced concerns that the new job presented a conflict of interest for him.
Bender, 64, had served one term on the city council, but didn't run for re-election in 2012. When filing to run for mayor, he said: "I am running to support my special interest: the people of Red Wing."
After winning, he credited his previous government experience, plus his promise to "consider all sides of issues, try to put good thought into things” and to promote Red Wing, said the Red Wing Republican Eagle.
Bender beat five other candidates in the special election. The paper reported a 26 percent turnout for the election.
Results:
- Bender, 945 votes
- John Sachen, 640
- Samantha Tix, 542
- Christopher Nelson, 158
- Ernest Stone, 110
- Elizabeth Kocina, 54
- Six write-ins
Bender will be sworn in June 24.