Haglin, Nelson, Robinson win
Brainerd School Board election
Brainerd School District voters elected newcomers Tom Haglin and Chris Robinson and re-elected board chair Ruth Nelson to the three four-year school board seats up for election Tuesday.
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Haglin received 1,707 votes, Nelson received 1,662 votes and Robinson received 1,526 votes. Vote totals for other candidates were: Todd Froemming, 1,318 votes; Nancy Cross, 950 votes; and Howard Brewer, 439 votes.
Tom Haglin and Ruth Nelson awaited vote totals Tuesday night at the Crow Wing County Courthouse. Haglin was elected to a four-year term and Nelson was re-elected to a four-year term. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Haglin, Nelson and Cross spent Tuesday night on the second floor of the historic courthouse watching as the election results came in.
Haglin said he was surprised he received the most votes cast for the four-year terms, adding that he had "some great competition."
"Honestly, where I fell into the pack, I had no idea," Haglin said of going into the election.
Haglin said he's excited to join the school board.
"It'll be fun and exciting to help out and be part of the school system again," Haglin said of being on the board.
"It's very exciting," Ellen Haglin said of her husband being elected to the board. "He's excited to just give back to his community what he's received. If he can help make a difference, he likes to do that."
Nelson, who will serve her second term on the board, thanked voters for their support.
"I'm very happy to have gotten re-elected," said Nelson. "It was a great slate of candidates. I'm excited for the new board and to work with them. I will continue to work hard and do my best."
Nelson said she'll miss Bob Nystrom on the board. Nystrom lost to Jim Hunt for the two-year special board seat.
"I really like Bob and I feel bad personally for him," said Nelson. "I think Jim Hunt will be a good board member too. But I will miss Bob."
The results from the first of the 21 voting precincts arrived at the courthouse just before 9 p.m.; the last precinct to come in was Brainerd city Ward 1 well about midnight.
Deborah Erickson, Crow Wing County auditor, said voter turnout was at 11.4 percent. During the 2007 school board election, in which the district's operating levy referendum was defeated, the district had a 56.7 percent voter turnout. In 2005, a similar election where there was a school board race only, the school district had a 7 percent voter turnout.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.