It's party time this December as going-away celebrations fill the agendas of local government officials.
That's because a significant number of officials were ousted in the November election — and many say they were inundated by a wave of anti-incumbent sentiment that spilled over from the presidential election.
"There was a different attitude throughout the county of anti-something — anti-taxes, anti-incumbent, whatever," said Barbara Marschall, a Scott County commissioner for two decades who lost her seat. "It extended all the way from city hall to the White House."
A Star Tribune analysis of metro-area counties showed locally elected positions — including City Council and township board members, mayors and county commissioners — saw significant turnover in November, echoing the unexpected election of Donald Trump and the ushering in of many new state legislators.
More than 40 local officials were defeated, some longtime public servants who lost to candidates with little political experience.
"The good we accomplished was overlooked because people became tired of the status quo," said Thomas O'Connor, who lost his re-election bid as mayor of Victoria.
When an incumbent is unseated locally, one of two factors is usually at play, said Craig Waldron, who directs Hamline University's public administration programs.
Sometimes one local issue, like construction of a new city hall or approval of a controversial street project, unites an opposing group and its members fight to remove the leaders responsible for that decision, Waldron said.
