The owner of a financial advisement firm and a retired corporate executive will advance to the general election in the race for the 1st Ward Albert Lea City Council seat.

Rich Murray received the most votes in the Ward 1 primary on Tuesday with 191, or 60.6 percent of the vote, followed by Craig Havener, who received 72 votes, or 22.9 percent.

George Gillespie received 46 votes, or 14.6 percent, and Harold Kamrath received six votes, or 1.9 percent.

Murray, who owns ISC Financial Advisors in downtown Albert Lea, said he was glad to hear the results.

“I look forward to now engaging in conversations with people of the 1st Ward and people throughout our community and talking to them about what’s important and how we continue to build this city,” Murray said.

This includes adding jobs, updating infrastructure and making people proud to live in Albert Lea.

He said he has already done some door knocking and plans to cover the ward at least a few times before the general election. He said he thinks talking to people face to face is the best way to get his message out.

In a previous interview, Murray talked about the need for more market rate housing, educating the workforce and improving infrastructure in the community.

Havener, a former executive for Thomas & Betts Corp., a Memphis, Tennessee, based company, said he was somewhat surprised to hear the results because he hasn’t lived in the city as long as some of the other candidates.

He said he plans to move forward to the general election pointing out some of the same concerns he has previously, including the need for accountability in city government.

“There doesn’t seem to be anybody responsible to try to look for ways to cut spending, save money and reduce taxes,” Havener said, noting that these things will bring people to the city.

In a previous interview, he said if he is elected, he would like to gather what people are thinking and put together a coalition to ensure needed changes are met.

Gillespie wished the two men the best of luck and thanked everyone who supported him.

Kamrath earlier this month announced he withdrew from the race.