West metro elections: Orono mayoral challenger wins in race that drew big money

Orono will have a new mayor next year after voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly selected challenger Bob Tunheim over incumbent Dennis Walsh.

Tunheim, a former Orono school board chair, took in about two-thirds of the votes, according to preliminary results posted overnight by the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office.

The pair competed in a contentious contest that drew thousands in campaign spending. Both candidates pitched themselves as leaders who would value civility, be responsible stewards of taxpayer money and run operations better than their competitor.

Orono is home to about 8,000 people. It borders a portion of Lake Minnetonka and surrounds the city of Long Lake. The two cities are locked in a lawsuit and face a trial next year, as Long Lake officials accuse Orono of trying to poach their firefighters after Orono broke off to form its own department.

Some residents and business owners have also questioned the value of a new public works facility and deals that transferred Lake Minnetonka property rights to city officials. Public meetings have at times devolved into shouting, with speakers and elected leaders trading pointed words or suing one another.

The mayor presides over City Council meetings, serves as a spokesperson for Orono and can declare emergencies, if needed. The position pays $4,200 per year. Local elections have drawn many multiples of that in campaign donations.

A new political committee called Preserve Orono, which sent mailers urging people to vote for Walsh, reported more than $55,000 in contributions this year, primarily from three people. In October, Walsh reported about $36,000 in campaign contributions, about $35,000 of which was a loan from himself. Tunheim reported about $30,000 in contributions.

Other notable west metro races:

Residents voted in three competitive Plymouth City Council races and flipped two seats.

For the at-large seat, Joel Spoonheim beat challengers Kraig Urquhart and Armetha Pihlstrom. He will replace Council Member Jim Willis, who did not seek re-election.

Incumbent Kim Nelson, who represents Ward 1, won over Shine Mahi. And in the Ward 3 race, Scott Aldrich prevailed over incumbent Catherine Cesnik and challenger Julie Ritz-Schlaifer.

In Edina, Mayor James Hovland was re-elected after facing a challenge from former Council Member Ron Anderson.

Residents also voted for two council members. Incumbents Carolyn Jackson and James Pierce were re-elected.

Council Member John Elder defeated fellow Council Member Jonathan London in the race to replace longtime Mayor Kathi Hemken, who decided not to run again.

Elder, a Robbinsdale police captain, previously served as a spokesperson for the Minneapolis Police Department.