Bemrich elected mayor of Fort Dodge
Defeats Litwiller 2,655 votes to 2,250By BILL SHEA Messenger staff writer
Article Photos
Fort Dodge City Councilman Matt Bemrich will take a new place at the council table next year - the seat reserved for the mayor.
Bemrich defeated Councilwoman Cindy Litwiller Tuesday by a roughly 400-vote margin to win the city's highest office.
He secured 2,655 votes, or 52.71 percent.
Litwiller won 2,250 votes, or 44.67 percent.
''I just feel great,'' Bemrich said during a victory celebration at the Best Western Starlite Village Inn and Suites.
''I'm definitely excited and optimistic about the opportunities Fort Dodge has,'' he added.
Bemrich will the second part-time mayor Fort Dodge has had in recent history. The job became part-time in 2006, when the city manager form of government went into effect.
Bemrich will replace Mayor Terry Lutz, who did not seek a second term.
''It was a very good race,'' Litwiller said. ''It was a close race. I'm confident we did everything we could.''
Litwiller said she wants all the people who supported her to now support Bemrich.
She represented the city's 3rd Ward for four years.
The mayoral race featured two opponents who often agreed on issues during their tenure on the council. Perhaps one of the clearest distinctions between the two emerged last last month when Litwiller voted against a development agreement for a proposed casino which Bemrich supported.
Bemrich said his first priority upon taking office will be meeting with the council members to ''get everyone up to speed on exactly what the city is doing and how we're doing it.''
Litwiller said it's too early to say if she'll return to city politics in the future.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
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boatassembler
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11-05-09 8:24 PM
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wake up I know you care Stranded hasn't totally convinced me yet, but I am leaning towards the fact he or she might.
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strandediniowa
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11-05-09 7:37 PM
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Thank you.
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wakeup
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11-05-09 5:12 PM
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come on I care
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boatassembler
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11-05-09 7:25 AM
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strandediniowa: I stand in awe of NOTHING you say. Stop thinking so high of yourself. Nobody else does.
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wakeup
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11-04-09 11:12 PM
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boatassembler your comments must be the what a person would call out in left field. Off year for election, nationwide problems. The problem is no one cares. This is why the city is so bad, 30%
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dodgers01
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11-04-09 11:10 PM
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One thing I hope we all can agree on...bad picture holding flowers.
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dodgers01
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11-04-09 11:00 PM
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it's called I35 or I80...be stranded in Mizz, Minn, Ill, or Nebraska
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controlpetpopulationspayandneuter
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11-04-09 10:21 PM
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I really do wish more folks would of come out to vote.....its likely most of the complainers didnt even bother to come out and vote. If you didnt vote sit down and be quiet...you have no right to complain! Lets all unite and move ahead.
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boatassembler
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11-04-09 10:14 PM
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Strandediniowa: You are no more right than the man in the moon. I read your comments and all I see is sour grapes.Of course the turnout was lousy. It's an off year for elections and even in good years participation is slim at best. And you know what? That isn't a Ft Dodge problem; it's a nationwide problem. "You know I'm right". How big of you! Do you really think we all sit here wating anxiously for the next pearl of wisdom to come from stransdediniowa? How do you get that overinflated head and ego in the doorway? Believe me if you never posted again, I'd still be able to sleep nights. And yes my candidate for mayor did not win, but Bemrich has not even taken office yet and you can do nothing but bad mouth him. I didn't vote for him, but now that he has won, I'm willing to wait and give him a chance. Why don't you grow up and do the same?
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Junemcg
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11-04-09 9:43 PM
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strandediniowa, your name says it all. you do not want to be here so go back where you came from.
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strandediniowa
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11-04-09 9:21 PM
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What's really sad is that less than 5,000 people even bothered to vote for either mayoral candidate, what a huge victory! What were the rest of the townsfolk doing? It's laughable & shameful, just like our new mayor. He sure looks pretty holding them flowers. Please bloggers... quit wasting your time to personally address my comments, you are wasting your time & I know the truth hurts you dearly but you just have to accept it because deep down inside your souls... you know I'm right.
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wakeup
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11-04-09 9:02 PM
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Paladin" Have you been around for all the mayor's of Fd? What is interesting here is you have all the answers. The election is over and your candidates won, am I right?
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FDGolfer
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11-04-09 7:20 PM
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Good point dodgers 01. If you are someone confused by a roundabout, I do not think you are entitled to comment on anything further than the newest toy in your value meal.
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FDguy1
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11-04-09 4:32 PM
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Boy do some of you people need to let go of the past! Lets move forward in a positive manner. I live just outside of the city limits but work in FD and my kids go to school in FD so I follow whats going on very closely. Mr. Lutz did a nice job and tried very hard to move this city forward. I believe Mr. Bemrich will do the same. Matt has a tough road ahead with the possibility of several hundred job losses. Nevertheless I believe he is the right person for the job. As far Mr. Lutz telling people to "shut up"...I dont blame him! You should listen to some of you!
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gummybear
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11-04-09 2:29 PM
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standediniowa, I DITTO your comment! May God help FD cause this mayor won't!! SAD SAD :(
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Fdteen
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11-04-09 2:19 PM
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Everyone stop being negative. Bemrich and Lutz have and will move this town forward. The roundabout and downtown projects in this community will bring people and jobs. If you can't figure it out, boy do I feel sorry for you. And streets are an issue in every town. But every single residential street won't bring people here unlike the big projects. Congrats Mayor Bemrich!!
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dodgers01
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11-04-09 12:48 PM
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if you get confused with a roundabout your comments on this message board should be omitted.
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dodgers01
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11-04-09 12:42 PM
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Congrats to Matt...I didn't see a whole lot of differnce between Matt and Cindy. This position is a token position and wouldn't have mattered either way who won.
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rednecktrucker
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11-04-09 12:41 PM
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Nay sayer? How many people have been told to shut up at various meetings by te Mayor? I say good ridance. He should have been tar and feathered and run out of town on a rail (if only it were legal to do so). It has been only for a select few to bullly their wishes on others. Beautification? I"m ALL FOR IT. Nothing wrong with it. Downtown project? It's cool. BUT who in blazes is paying for all this? I believe it means our light bills will increase. And the sidewalks at Noth 8th street? One can get dizzy with all the circle sidewalk...like the "great turn about' that I've heard folks get confused once they get in it. Maybe it shows us something about our 'leaders'.They have been going around in circles trying to spent money they don't have to forgetting priorities I hope this council is a little wiser in the way they conduct business. When people are told to shut up it amounts to like a dictatorship. I hope the new council at leaset listens to what people have to say
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Missouriboy
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11-04-09 12:28 PM
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Congratulations Matt. You didn't waiver on your positions and try to play to the Higgins/Hemann/Patterson/Burleson/Hickey crowd. Good for you. I hope you do have a strong leadership style, like Lutz, because this council will be harder to control and lead. Good luck.
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Paladin
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11-04-09 12:16 PM
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Terry Lutz is the best mayor this city has ever seen. He saw and understood the problems facing our community and had the experience of working with other communities that had been through the same concerns. He pushed, pulled, and drug Fort Dodge into a progressive program that works on the city as a whole, not just the streets. Matt Bemrich will follow in his footsteps and with the positives he has on the council in Hindman, Flattery, Olson, Halverson-Collins and Fritz, he will continue what Lutz has started. Why? Because in the last three city elections, the majority of the people have spoken loudly that what Mayor Lutz and the council have done since 2005 is exactly what they want. The nay-sayers is this city don't get it, and will refuse to accept it. So be it. They are in for a frustrating time unless they get on board and help. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be in their nature. Go Fort Dodge, the future is bright!
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digger07
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11-04-09 11:54 AM
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lets just hope personal interests are put aside after the last mayor, he does that and ft dodge is already in better shape.
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FDGolfer
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11-04-09 11:47 AM
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Stranded. it is impossible for any elected official to stand for what all the people think is right. People that get elected do so because they stand for what MOST of the people want. I am sorry that a small percentage of you don't want to hear that, but that it why he won. MOST of us beleive in these ideas and want positive change. The rest spend their days complaining on this web site.
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jbs1980
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11-04-09 11:44 AM
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AHHHH It's a great day to be a citizen of Fort Dodge!
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strandediniowa
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11-04-09 11:31 AM
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I stand by my original comment. I know Matt personally & I know how he is.
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