Martin, Vedbraaten, Erickson, Cavalier and Gjerswold Win Elections

Guy Martin won the Crookston Mayoral race, Tom Vedbraaten and Steve Erickson will continue on the City Council and Don Cavalier and Cindy Gjerswold will join the Crookston City Council after the election on Tuesday night.  2,498 people of the 3,491 voters registered voted in the Crookston Mayor race.

Mayor Race –
Guy Martin (pictured right) edged Dean Adams by 11 votes to win the five-person Crookston Mayoral race.  Martin had 580 votes and Dean Adams had 569 with Clayton Briggs finishing third with 552.  Martin will replace Wayne Melbye who didn’t run for reelection.
Martin has served as a Crookston City Council member for 12 years.  Eight years in the late 80’s to early 90’s and four years from 2008 to 2012.  He said he is ready to get back into the council chambers and he was grateful for everyone that voted for him. “It feels good.  I would like to thank all the people that voted for me,” said Martin. “There will be a relearning curve and learning curve and I am looking toward 2019 as I can start as the new mayor.  It will be some fast learning over the next couple of months and settle in and take it from there.  I would like to thank again all the people that voted for me and I will do my best.”

Crookston City Council At-Large-
Current Crookston City Councilman Tom Vedbraaten’s term in Ward 6 was up and he elected to run for the City Council at-large spot so he could represent the entire city.  Vedbraaten will replace Bob Quanrud who didn’t run for reelection.   With the talk of a dysfunctional council, Vedbraaten said it is nice to know the residents must think he is doing a good job to reelect him. “It feels pretty good and I am pleased that the people feel I have done a good enough job that they put me in there and I want to thank all of those that have voted for me,” said Vedbraaten. “I would like to put a lot of attention to bring more jobs to town.  You come to town for a job, you build or move into a house and possibly have a family and the kids go to the schools.  If we can get jobs that people can make a living, that is a number one priority for me.”

City Council Ward 4 –
Don Cavalier won the race in Ward 4 by a 215 to 121 vote.  Cavalier will replace Dennis Regan who didn’t run for reelection.  Cavalier is currently the chair of the Crookston Park and Recreation committee.

City Council Ward 2-
Steve Erickson will get another term as Crookston City Councilman for Ward 2 after he was unopposed and received 475 votes.  Erickson is the owner (along with his wife Laurie) of Erickson Embroidery and 2nd Street Boutique in downtown Crookston.

City Council Ward 6 –
Cindy Gjerswold ran unopposed for City Council in Ward 6 to replace Tom Vedbraaten (who won the City Council at Large election).  Gjerswold was a long-time business owner and a few years ago she sold Doda’s Hardware Hank and is now working at Tri-Valley.  She received 384 votes.