Heather Edelson prevailed over Marisa Simonetti — again.
In Tuesday’s election, Edelson won nearly 68% of the vote, defeating Simonetti by a wide margin.
Simonetti, a businesswoman, grabbed headlines this summer when police arrested her for reportedly tossing a tarantula at a tenant of her Edina home. Simonetti ran as a Republican, though the contest is nonpartisan.
Edelson, a former three-term DFL representative, first defeated Simonetti in a May special election held after the previous District 6 commissioner resigned to lead a nonprofit. She will represent a district that encompasses Edina, Greenwood, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Shorewood and Wayzata.
Edelson — along with the winners of three other races — will serve a four-year term on the seven-person board. Commissioners will earn $128,336 in 2025.
Anderson defeats Kohler
Incumbent Kevin Anderson won the race for District 7, which stretches from Minnetrista to Champlin.
Anderson, a former IT professional, received about 55% of the vote to defeat former mixed martial arts athlete Brad Kohler. Kohler, a gym owner and restaurant manager, garnered attention during the campaign for his criminal record, but he told the Minnesota Star Tribune he has learned from his mistakes.
In the lead-up to the election, Anderson touted his work on the board, from expanding broadband access to the county’s push to end veteran homelessness.
