Incumbents re-elected to Freeborn County Board of Commissioners
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, November 9, 2016
All three Freeborn County commissioner incumbents were re-elected Tuesday.
First District Commissioner Glen Mathiason defeated Ronald Jacobsen. Third District Commissioner Jim Nelson defeated David Shoff, and 5th District Commissioner Mike Lee defeated Lynn Berven.
1st District
Mathiason won re-election soundly with 2,044 votes — 64.4 percent — to Jacobsen’s 1,125 votes, or 35.5 percent.
Mathiason — who was elected to his fifth term on the board — said he was pleased with the outcome and is happy that the election is finished. He hopes to use common sense and make good decisions.
He thanked his constituents for their support.
“They’re a good bunch of people to work for,” he said.
Jacobsen said Mathiason has done a good job as commissioner, adding that though people were unhappy with certain issues, it was not enough to get him elected over Mathiason.
3rd District
Nelson won re-election with 1,554 votes — 57.8 percent — to Shoff’s 1,127 votes, or 41.9 percent.
Nelson — who was elected to his fourth term on the board — said he appreciates everyone who voted for him, and he wished luck to Shoff.
Nelson wants to focus on infrastructure and attracting business by working with the city of Albert Lea and the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce.
Shoff was unable to be reached.
5th District
Lee won with 1,670 votes — 57.4 percent — to Berven’s 1,234 votes, or 42.4 percent.
Lee — who was elected to his second full term on the board — said he wants to keep property taxes in check, bring businesses to Freeborn County and ensure roads are safe and in good condition.