In what was considered a very poor showing at the polls, the race of seven candidates was narrowed to two on Tuesday as voters in Freeborn County’s 5th Commissioner District cast their votes for the seat vacated by the embroiled Linda Tuttle.

Mike Lee had the most votes cast in the primary with 230 votes, followed by Tony Pestorious with 112 votes. Both will advance to the special general election on March 15.

Curtis Smith, Doug Conn, Hugh O’Byrne, Marilyn Roche and Chad Hayson, also running in the primary, were eliminated from the race.

Polls closed at 8 p.m., and Lee and Roche were both at the Freeborn County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office to gauge the results as they were announced. When all of the votes were in, around 9:15 p.m., the two shook hands.

“I’ve been out talking and listening to what people want, and I’m glad people thought I’m good enough to vote for me,” said Lee.

Lee also wished to thank all of his supporters.

Pestorious, at home with his grandchildren, also wished to thank his supporters. He found out he won by watching the live Twitter feed on the Tribune’s website.

“It was nerve-wracking,” he said. “I thought of the other five candidates because I know how tough it is to put yourself out there.”

Freeborn County’s 5th District comprises Pickerel Lake Township plus Albert Lea’s 3rd and 6th Wards. Pestorious won in Pickerel Lake Township. Lee won in the 3rd and 6th wards of Albert Lea.

Pestorious said he will push the 3rd and 6th wards harder, put out more signs and continue with the door knocking between now and March 15.

As of Monday, Lee had knocked on 2,775 doors during his campaign. There were six blocks in the 3rd Ward, however, that he did not get to yet.

“The first thing I’m doing this next week when it warms up is finish up with those six blocks, talk to the people and listen to what they have to say,” he said.

Lee, 55, has lived in the Freeborn County area nearly his entire life and works in the health care profession at Elm Homes and Helping Hands of Minnesota. He has said his goals are to hold down property taxes by looking at combining county and Albert Lea city services.

Pestorious, 55, is a fifth-generation member of his family to live in Pickerel Lake Township. He is employed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture food safety inspection service and has cited his goals as cutting down spending and holding down property taxes.

Pestorious, Lee and Smith ran for the position in 2008.

Former Commissioner Linda Tuttle defeated Lee on a vote of 1,752 to 1,548, to win the seat.

The seat of District 5 commissioner was vacated Aug. 1 when Tuttle resigned after being accused of using her company, Albert Lea Abstract Co., to divert money into her own accounts to pursue an alleged gambling addiction.

Tuttle was charged in federal court in St. Paul last week with one count of wire fraud. She is also facing 12 counts of felony theft by swindle, along with one count of racketeering.

Low voter turnout

Of the 459 registered voters in Pickerel Lake Township, 117 cast their ballots. The numbers were even lower in the city wards: Of 1,849 registered voters in the 3rd Ward, 297 cast votes; of 1,454 registered voters in the 6th Ward, 164 cast votes.

Freeborn County Auditor-Treasurer Dennis Distad determined that this came out to a 15 percent voter turnout. He said there were only 12 or 13 absentee ballots cast.

“Our showing was very, very poor,” said Bev Sutton, an electoral judge with the 3rd Ward. “I kept hoping it would pick up but it just didn’t happen.”

She pointed out they received more votes by 8 a.m. during the general election in November than they did during the entire day of this special primary election. She also pointed out there were very few young voters — it was mostly elderly voters.

“I hate to say there’s a certain amount of apathy because it’s not a general election,” Distad said.

He said the Aug. 10 regular primary election for the Freeborn County sheriff’s race last August had a 32 percent showing. On that ballot were races for Albert Lea mayor, Minnesota governor and other offices.

Distad said part of the reason may also be that a lot of people have gone south for the winter.

Turnout might be higher March 15. Not only will the weather be warmer, the special primary election for Albert Lea Ward 1 takes place the same day, though at different polling stations.

Primary results