HERMANTOWN — Challengers defeated incumbents in local races in St. Louis County amid ongoing tensions surrounding a proposed Google data center in Hermantown.
Emma Richtman and Candi Mock, two Hermantown City Council candidates who have been critical of the Council's handling of the data center, defeated incumbent Andy Hjelle.
Two newcomers are also headed to the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners.
Richtman, Mock beat Council member Hjelle
Richtman and Mock finished in first and second place, respectively, in the Hermantown City Council election to cinch the race's two open seats.
The newcomers, who often campaigned together, defeated incumbent Andy Hjelle and challengerMiranda McKay-Chambers.
The Council's other incumbent, Brian LeBlanc, did not run for reelection.
Richtman and Mock released a joint statement Thursday, Oct. 29, criticizing the Council's approach to hearing citizen input on the proposal, stating limitations on public comments were "undercutting the democratic process."
“The City and Google claim that they have incorporated public comment, but here they are limiting public comment right after a literal outcry from citizens, asking to be heard," Mock said in the statement.
"The push for this timeline only seeks to accommodate corporate interests, while community members continue to be silenced and dismissed," Richtman added.
The City Council voted Friday, Oct. 30, on six resolutions to move the proposed data center forward. The meeting came after protests delayed the original Monday meeting. Attendance at the rescheduled meeting was capped at 85 people.
After multiple hours of public comment mostly in opposition to the proposal, the Council passed all resolutions unanimously.
Incumbent candidate Hjelle was an outspoken supporter of the data center project. In a Facebook post last week, he stated protests were bringing "outside political drama" into Hermantown and silencing residents.
"A coordinated disruption took over the room, shouted down normal business, and drowned out the voices of everyday residents," Hjelle stated about the Monday protests.
On Election Day, Hjelle finished in third place, trailing Mock by more than 600 votes.
Eilers unseats Harala in Duluth, Mattson to rep Range
In St. Louis County Board District 1, which represents Duluth, Kris Eilers defeated incumbent Annie Harala.
Eilers won by about 8%, according to unofficial data from the Secretary of State's website as of Wednesday evening.
Eilers is the executive director of the St. Louis River Alliance, an environmental nonprofit. Shesupports a data center moratorium, according to her campaign website.
Harala previously signed a nondisclosure agreement related to the data center project, though she later said she regretted the decision.
In District 6, which stretches from Grand Lake Township to Mountain Iron along Highway 53, Timothy Mattson narrowly defeated Chris Johnson for an open seat. Both candidates are Iron Range steelworkers.
Mattson told the Duluth News Tribune property taxes and industry opportunities were some of his top priorities.
District 4 Commissioner Paul McDonald will return to the Board after running unopposed.
A full list of results for Northern Minnesota's contested races is available below:
- Gallery: Northern Minnesotans vote on Election Day
- Igo returns to MN House for 4th term as District 7A rep
- Farnsworth wins 2nd term, defeats McLaughlin in Senate District 7 race
- House District 10A seat remains red as Striemer wins 1st term
- Skraba defeats Kania to retain House District 3A seat
- Judge Matthew Mallie wins reelection in 9th Judicial District race
- Challenger Stone defeats incumbent Park Rapids Mayor Mikesh
- Incumbents lose in both Aitkin County commissioner races
