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Secor wins FD council special election

Will fill vacancy for remainder of this year

Megan Secor

Megan Secor won Tuesday’s Fort Dodge City Council special election, winning about 53 percent of the votes to defeat Wayne Mason.

“I’m definitely surprised and grateful for everyone who turned out,” she said Tuesday night.

She received 460 votes, or 52.57 percent, according to unofficial election returns released by Webster County Auditor Doreen Pliner.

Mason won 413 votes, or 47.2 percent, according to those unofficial election returns.

Just 875 voters cast ballots.

“I can’t even believe that only 875 people cared enough about what’s going on to go out and vote,” Mason said. “I’ve had more people at a tailgate than that.”

He described the low voter turnout as “more disappointing than even losing.”

With her election win, Secor will complete the unexpired term of former Councilman Neven Conrad, who resigned in October after being named the magistrate for Humboldt County. That term will run through the remainder of this year. The at-large seat will be on the November ballot as part of the regular election cycle and the winner of that vote will serve a full four-year term.

She will replace Councilman Andy Fritz, who was appointed by the council to fill the vacancy before a citizens’ petition forced a special election.

Secor said she hasn’t been told when she will be taking office.

Mayor Matt Bemrich said earlier in the day Tuesday that it was his understanding that the winner of the special election would be sworn into office at next Monday’s council meeting.

“I’m going to learn the ropes,” Secor said. “I’m going to listen to everybody who’s around me who’s been there longer. I’m not going to be a hindrance and I’m going to keep progressing Fort Dodge.”

She described herself as “really grateful for the outpouring of support over the last couple of months.”

She said relatives, friends and acquaintances who spread the word about her candidacy were key to her election win.

“That meant the world to me,” she said.

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