I swear, I checked FR before posting this story, but we must have done it at the same time! Sorry for the double-post.
http://www.jrnl.com/cfdocs/new/mc/mainstory.cfm?snumber=04&paper=mc§ion=fpKensington mayor wins third term
By WHITNEY L. JACKSON
Journal staff writer
In the town's first election since last year's now-infamous ``Santa ban," a record number of Kensington voters Monday returned two-term Mayor Lynn Raufaste to office.
Raufaste defeated challenger Andrea Gill 332-257 after an unusually visible campaign that included fliers, direct mailing, letters to the editors of local newspapers and signs that lined the town's streets.
More than half of the town's 1,200 registered voters cast ballots.
``I think the majority of the town recognized what my administration has done over the last four years," Raufaste said Tuesday. ``It feels wonderful to return to office, and we'll do more in the next two years."
She said she looked forward to finishing the three-phase revitalization project that began three years ago. The first two phases of the project, involving Antique Row off Knowles Avenue, are complete - and the last part of the effort, the Safeway grocery store remodeling, should be completed by the end of this term, she said.
Gill said she was neither disappointed nor surprised with the election results. Instead, she called the campaign and election a ``life-affirming experience."
``I feel as though this sleepy little town has been awakened to being involved with the government," she said. ``Of course, I ran to be elected, but I knew it would be an uphill battle. I'm just glad the people came out to vote."
Kensington, a usually quiet town of 1,873 residents, attracted an abundance of unwanted attention in December when the Kensington City council, with Raufaste's support, voted not to allow Santa Claus at the town's annual tree-lighting ceremony.
The ban came at the request of some residents and also was an attempt to inject post-9/11 solemnity into the occasion. But it ignited a firestorm of national - even international - anger from critics, who decried the ban as frivolous government nannyism.
Gill made the Santa ban an issue, arguing that Raufaste did not include town residents in important local decisions, such as the ban, and partisans on both sides debated the issue in town and on the letters-to-the-editor sections of newspapers.
The atmosphere at the polls was lively and pleasant, with no mention of the controversy, according to City Council member Leanne Pfautz, who, along with Raufaste, also was returned to office. Al Car was elected to the council as well.
Gill said Tuesday that she planned to stay active in town politics, a decision Pfautz applauded.
``I hope she stays involved," Pfautz said. ``She has a lot of great ideas for Kensington, and I would love to see her implement them."
But both Pfautz and Raufaste said they hoped the next Kensington election is not be as intense as this year's, or it could damage the town's sense of community.
``I felt like the politics weren't as above-board as they could have been,'' Raufaste said. ``I want to go back to the old way of doing things with no derogatory statements."
She also said the large number of fliers and signs overwhelmed citizens at the end of the race.
Gill disagreed. She said sending out fliers, putting up campaign boards and knocking on doors were the only ways to reach voters effectively.
``You have to get your name out and let the people know what you're about," she said.