WerkhovenVALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP) – A southeastern North Dakota mayor who survived a recall election two years ago has held off another challenge.
 
     Voters in Valley City on Tuesday gave Bob Werkhoven another four years in the race against Jeff Edwards.  Werkhoven received 721 votes, to 581 for Edwards.
 
     Werkhoven won the 2012 recall election with 57 percent of the vote.
 
     The special election stemmed from political turmoil that included the departure of police chief Dean Ross amid allegations he mishandled public money. The city dropped those allegations, and Ross ran for Werkhoven’s seat.

 

Earlier related story

Valley City (CSi) – A Valley City Commissioner and former Valley City mayor recently made public her support for the challenger in (next week’s)  mayoral election.

Mary Lee Nielson placed the ad which said challenger Jeff Edwards, a business manager for a developer in the area, has a strong background in human resources. She praised his work with the city’s housing task force.

Nielson also said she believes Edwards “will work with everyone without using profanity or making sexist or racist remarks.”

When asked about the ad, Nielson declined to give specific examples of sexism or racism from Mayor Bob Werkhoven.

Werkhoven, who defeated Nielson in the 2010 mayoral race, accused her of using cheap tactics to sabotage his campaign.

Two other city commissioners have joined Nielson in backing Edwards.

Matt Pedersen and Dewey Magnuson, the other two commissioners supporting Edwards, (are also up for re-election Tuesday.)

Edwards said he’s had limited contact with Werkhoven in the past and therefore couldn’t comment on possible racism or sexism on the mayor’s part.

At the May 20, 2014 Valley City Commission meeting, during the Public Forum, resident Lloyd Nelson said three Commissioners are backing Jeff Edwards for mayor, and asked about the circumstances of their meeting with Edwards.

Commissioner Nielson said the question is not intended for discussion under City Commission meeting policy, and was not what Nelson indicated that he wanted to discuss at the meeting.