The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Election 2010

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November 3, 2010

Dehen wins North Mankato mayor race

By Robb Murray Free Press Staff Writer

NORTH MANKATO —  Change is coming to North Mankato, and it sounds very familiar.

Mark Dehen was elected mayor with a resounding 56 percent of the vote, 30 years to the day that his late father won his first mayor’s race.

“I want to thank the citizens and voters for voting for me,” Dehen said. “I’m humbled by it and hope I can do a good job.”

Dehen received 2,922 votes, or 56 percent, to Zellmer’s 2,273 votes, or 44 percent.

Both candidates ran with hopes to continue the process of upgrading Highway 14. The highway is among the state’s most deadly, and area city leaders have been pushing for a full four-lane road from New Ulm to Rochester.

City leaders have been working with the Minnesota Department of Transportation on trying to speed up the pace at which a revamping of that road from North Mankato to New Ulm can occur.

Zellmer also cited a need to continue economic development, and said the city is progressing on revitalizing the Belgrade Avenue business district, the Highway 14/Lookout Drive area, and a new warehouse venture on Webster Avenue.

Dehen, who remembers moving to the community in the 1960s when the annual Fun Days celebration began, said the driving force to his candidacy was the need for improved cooperation.

He said North Mankato can do a better job of cooperating and collaborating with all neighboring government entities. There have been several instances where North Mankato has opted to not work with other local governments to jointly provide services or share services, such as the Greater Mankato Growth and the Traverse des Sioux Library System among others.

Dehen said he wanted thank Zellmer for being a gentleman and positioning the city well to prosper.

But he also made it clear that he hopes to usher in a new era for North Mankato, one characterized by cooperation.

“I hope I can be a good steward, and I hope I can reach out to our neighbors,” Dehen said. “I believe this vote was a vote for change.”

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Election 2010