In south metro, Dakota County, Lakeville certain to see new leaders

Dakota County will see a new county commissioner and Lakeville a new mayor, while Prior Lake's mayor lost his post.

Dakota County election results were not available by deadline.

Four Dakota County Board spots are up for grabs, but only the Fourth District is sure to see a newcomer. State Rep. Joe Atkins faced off against environmental activist Holly Jenkins for the seat of Commissioner Nancy Schouweiler, who is retiring after nearly 20 years representing District 4, which includes parts of Inver Grove Heights, Eagan and Rosemount. Another former legislator — Chris Gerlach in District 7 — sought to retain his County Board seat, along with incumbents Thomas Egan in District 3 and Liz Workman in District 5, who each had a challenger.

Doug Anderson and Hesham Shaaban competed to replace Matt Little as the next mayor of Lakeville. Little, who was elected as the city's youngest-ever mayor in 2012, ran for the Minnesota Senate in District 58 this year. Anderson is a City Council member while Shaaban, who stopped campaigning after a cancer diagnosis in September, is a chef.

Change is coming for the Burnsville City Council, with four candidates vying for the two spots vacated by Suzanne Nguyen and Mary Sherry. Former City Council member Dan Gustafson, Libertarian Cara Schulz and Jim Bradrick, the planning commission chairman, all made bids for the seats, along with Robin Harris, a human resources director, who was among the city's first two black City Council candidates this year.

Attorney Barbara Weckman Brekke beat longtime Commissioner Joe Wagner to win the District 1 seat representing Jordan, New Prague and part of Shakopee.

Challenger Dave Beer, the owner of a landscaping company who vowed to rein in spending, won in District 4 against 20-year incumbent Commissioner Barbara Marschall. The Fourth District encompasses Prior Lake and part of Shakopee.

In the Prior Lake mayoral race, newcomer Kirt Briggs defeated Mayor Ken Hedberg.