Orono’s mayoral challenger is leading the incumbent in a big-money race

Former Orono school board chairman Bob Tunheim held a strong lead in the race for mayor Tuesday night, ahead of incumbent Dennis Walsh.

It was one controversial match that attracted thousands in campaign spending. Both candidates presented themselves as leaders who would value civility, be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and be able to manage their operations better than their competitor.

Orono is home to approximately 8,000 people. It borders part of Lake Minnetonka and surrounds the town of Long Lake. The two cities are locked up in a lawsuit and face a trial next year as Long Lake officials accuse Orono of trying to poach their firefighters after Orono stopped short of forming its own department.

The mayor presides over city council meetings, acts as spokesperson for Orono and can declare emergencies if necessary. The position pays $4,200 per year. Local elections have generated many multiples of that in campaign donations.

A new political committee called Preserve Orono, which sent mailers urging people to vote for Walsh, reported more than $55,000 in contributions this year, mostly from three people. In October, Walsh reported about $36,000 in campaign contributions, about $35,000 of which was a loan from himself. Tunheim reported about $30,000 in contributions.

Other notable west metro races:

Residents voted in three competitive races for Plymouth City Council, with at least one seat guaranteed to flip.