Challenger's name drawn from hat in Wrenshall

Tied at 143 votes each after the Nov. 5 municipal election, challenger Jeff Bloom’s name was drawn at Wrenshall City Hall Tuesday, meaning that he will likely replace incumbent Gary Butala, who requested a recount after the drawing. That will be done by Carlton County, and is within either candidate’s rights, considering the knotted vote totals. The recount will take place at 9 a.m. Dec. 2 at the county transportation building.

Butala said there are some questions about 50 ballots that were not counted. All voting for the city is done by mail-in ballots. He said he wants to know why they weren’t included, whether because of invalid signatures or some other issue.

A tied election is rare, Butala said, and he is simply making sure the election process worked properly. “I’m not bitter or anything like that,” he said of losing the drawing.

“I don’t think that machine cares about Jeff or Gary,” Bloom said when mulling a recount of ballots put into tabulators. “I’m going to believe in the system.”

Bloom said he fears his win might put people off, since it came clearly by chance. He said there should be a better way than drawing a name.

Of the counted ballots, one person submitted a write-in for mayor while 20 people left the mayor’s race blank. Butala said there is usually a write-in every election, often for a fictional character.

It was a close election, from mayor to city council members.

Kevin House and Steve Studniski broke the 20-percent mark and were elected from a field of five city council candidates for two seats with just a handful of votes separating them. Incumbent Melvin Martindale had 18 percent of the vote. Incumbent Jody Mattinen did not seek re-election.

After his name was drawn Tuesday, Bloom reiterated his stances on why he wanted to be mayor. He is a business owner in the city who has had some contentious run-ins with city officials. He and his wife, Liz, own the Wrenshall General Store, Lots4Bid, storage garages and an RV park on a 23-acre property at the south end of town. He had accused the city of creating ordinances targeting his businesses, including a campground ordinance that eventually passed in 2023.

At one point, Bloom asked for his property to be annexed into neighboring Silver Brook Township. Then he ran for mayor.

Before the election, he called for scrutiny of water tower fees and permit fees. He wanted city tax money better used for infrastructure and growth of the city.

And there was one word he used repeatedly. “Transparency,” Bloom said again Tuesday. “This is the 21st century” and he would like better access to city information, like livestreaming meetings on the internet.

He said he will serve everyone in the city.

“This is a big deal. I want this town to be looked at positively,” he said. “It’s not about Jeff. It’s about our community.”

He campaigned saying the “council should be working for the people, not the people working for them. I will listen to any and all suggestions on how our community can be improved and more welcoming to all. Welcome to the new Wrenshall.”