Two Carlton County races end in ties — winners determined by chance

A tie vote in any election is rare. But two in a single election, in a single jurisdiction? That’s what officials in Carlton County south of Duluth are navigating after two local races last week ended in dead heats.

In the mayoral race in the city of Wrenshall, incumbent Gary Butala and challenger Jeff Bloom each earned 143 votes.

And in the city of Kettle River, Patricia Lund and Laura Simi each garnered 33 votes in their race for city council.

A tie vote “has happened in our county before, but not on my watch,” said Carlton County Auditor Kevin DeVriendt. The last time he said locals could recall a tie vote was two or three decades ago, when a Cloquet city council seat was decided by a coin flip.

When an election ends in a tie in Minnesota, the canvassing board responsible for declaring the results of that race must determine a winner by lot.

On Tuesday morning in Wrenshall, the city council drew a name out of a hat. Jeff Bloom was the winner.

“I’m happy because I’m hoping the best for our town,” said Bloom, who owns several small businesses in Wrenshall, including a general store.

“I want more transparency,” Bloom added. “I think we can do better in our town. I think our growth is not where it needs to be, and I think we need to promote our town more in a positive way.”

Bloom’s victory is not yet finalized. The current mayor asked for a recount, which will be conducted by the county auditor’s office on Dec. 2.

Meanwhile, in Kettle River, the local canvassing board chose a different method to decide a winner in their deadlocked city council race.

“The mayor had a deck of cards with the numbers two through nine, and he mixed them up and put them on a table,” explained City administrator Kathy Lake.

“And then each candidate picked a card, and the one who had the highest number won the seat.”

Lund drew a seven and was declared winner. Simi, who picked a five, did not ask for a recount.

For county auditor DeVriendt, he’s thinking less about the two ties and more about the people who didn’t cast a vote for Mayor in Wrenshall.

“Twenty people that showed up at the polling location did not make a choice on that race, so they left the race blank,” said DeVriendt. They chose to not make a choice when they were filling in their ballot.”

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