BEMIDJI — Following last week’s special election for Bemidji’s Ward 5 seat, the city council will officially certify the results that placed Lynn Eaton as the election winner , during a work session on Monday.
Eaton won with 134 of the 253 votes cast, surpassing the 50% needed to avoid a runoff election later this year.
The seat was originally vacated following the resignation of Nancy Erickson, who had served on the council for 16 years and won her third consecutive election in 2020.
Other candidates and their vote totals included:
- Bill Batchelder , who received 91 votes, totaling 36%
- Don Heinonen received 21 votes
- Micaiah Graham received 5 votes
- Kevin Cambell received 1 vote
After the certification of the election results, the council will review the city's two municipal liquor stores.
Of the 210 cities in Minnesota that run liquor operations, Bemidji ranks seventh in sales, owning both Bemidji First City Liquor and Lakeview Liquor.
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Combined, both stores made a profit of more than $900,000 in 2021, with the money then being used to decrease property taxes and support city projects.
In the past, the profits have been used to help fund park improvements, the library and other council initiatives .
The city council also plans to review other expenses that these profits could possibly go toward, but which have not yet been budgeted.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. tonight, Feb. 14, at City Hall.
