Nov.

8, 2000

By Jacqueline Palfy

The Post-Bulletin

In two quirky Olmsted County races, voters picked candidates who once worked for
the county, according to unofficial election results.

Voters went with experience on Tuesday as they elected one-time Olmsted County
Commissioner James Daley back to the post. And they put Stephen Connelly on the
Soil and Water Conservation District Board after he was dismissed as district
manager in 1998.

Daley, who served on the board from 1978 to 1986, won by a vote of 5,597 to 3,335
to defeat opponent Fred Daly, who is a Cascade Township Supervisor. Daley will
succeed incumbent James Rossman, who did not seek re-election.

"I guess I've got my marching orders," Daley said, after being roused from sleep late
Tuesday. He said he's ready to step back into office, but acknowledged the similarity
in the two candidates' names might have caused some confusion for voters.

Daley said several area residents commented on his campaign signs -- but they
weren't his. They belonged to Daly, who said on Tuesday he was amazed Daley won
with such light campaigning.

"What can I say? People wanted him," Daly said. "He's a nice guy. I don't feel all that
bad about it."

Daley said he doesn't think confusion about the names unfairly tilted the election.

Daley said his top three issues before the election were juvenile crime, urban-rural
issues and taxes. He urged voters to remember his track record as a commissioner
when casting their votes.

In the race for Soil and Water board District 4 position, Connelly, who is suing
opponent William Fritts and other board members over his 1998 dismissal, won by
a vote of 26,270 to 17,195. Attorneys for the board asked a Rochester judge on
Monday to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Connelly. Connelly served as district
manager, an appointive post, from 1995 until his dismissal by the board in 1999.

In the District 5 Soil and Water race, Duane Johnson defeated Neil Stolp by a vote of
24,777 to 17,062, according to unofficial election results.

Running unopposed for seats on the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners, Jeff
Thompson earned 6,518 votes, Mike Podulke received 4,856 votes and Paul Wilson
received 5,616 votes.