Politics & Government

Shep Harris Elected New Mayor of Golden Valley

Harris spends thousands, beats incumbent Linda Loomis.

’ confidence was well-founded just after 8 p.m. Tuesday, as initial results showed him taking an early lead in the race for mayor of Golden Valley.

With several-dozen supporters in a back room at , Harris was attached to his cell phone as reports were coming in from the various precincts.

“We ran a good campaign,” he said. “We had over 50 volunteers. We started campaigning back in July and connected with thousands of residents and business people.”

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Harris said he raised more than $20,000 to finance his campaign.

“I got some criticism for that, but I felt it was necessary and that it was required in order to assure the voters of getting a good campaign.”

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By the end of the night, with a city voter turnout of almost 30 percent, Harris had captured a decisive victory over incumbent Linda Loomis.

"I'm overwhelmed and humbled," Harris said after the results were announced.  "I know politicians always say that, but I really am humbled that a majority of the people are putting their trust in me."

Mayoral Race (according to MN Secretary of State):

  • Shep Harris—56.12 percent
  • Linda Loomis—40.87 percent
  • Jeff Beck—2.81 percent
  • Write-In—0.20 percent

Throughout the campaign, Harris had focused on improving the city's economy by proactively reaching out to existing and potential businesses and by being more communicative with city residents.

"I think voters are excited to be heading in a new direction," he said. "We've got a good community, and we're going to make it even better."

Incumbent questioned whether Harris' plans were really all that different from what was already happening in Golden Valley.

In the Loomis pointed out that the city just earned a AAA bond rating, and throughout her campaign, she highlighted the progress made by Envision Golden Valley, a large-scale 2005 project to turn resident input into an executable plan for the city.

But after the election results were in, Loomis opted to focus on the future.

"I wish the new mayor well and I look forward to finishing up the rest of my term with the same hard work and determination that I have given since I was first elected," Loomis said in an email statemnent Wednesday morning. "It has been a privilege to serve the city of Golden Valley and its residents and I am looking forward to new opportunities."

Harris said he wants to build on the "good work" done by city leaders and residents. He said his first priority as mayor-elect is to connect with not only Golden Valley leadership, but with all officials—from the federal level to the school board—who work with the city.

"In the next few days, we've got to work on setting up a transition plan," he said. "But tonight we're allowing ourselves these few hours to celebrate a victory so many people worked really hard for."

Additional reporting done by Mike Wilkinson.


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