Fargo's newest city commissioner was born the same year his predecessor, Gib Bromenschenkel, was first elected to the post.
Thomas Lane, 32, will take office June 25, a day after the 71-year-old Bromenschenkel steps down from his seat after eight four-year terms on the board.
Bromenschenkel, 39 when first elected in 1970, is the longest-serving commissioner in Fargo history. He chose not to run for a ninth term so he could spend more time with his family.
Lane captured one of two open seats on the five-member panel Tuesday night with 4,187 votes.
John Cosgriff, the lone incumbent in the race, was elected to a third term with 6,904 votes.
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Other challengers included Michael Williams with 3,450 votes, Ronald Sorvaag with 3,147 votes, Dave Engebretson with 2,289 votes and David Helfter with 1,335 votes.
Wednesday, Lane said he is looking forward to his first term in office and hopes to do as well as his predecessor.
"I think Gib -- after 32 years -- those are hard shoes to fill," Lane said. "Obviously, he should be thanked for his public service, but I don't think he'll go quietly into the sunset. I think he'll stay involved; at least I hope he does."
Fargo Mayor Bruce Furness also was elected to his third and final term, defeating challenger Richard Blair 10,670 votes to 1,702.
Furness said the margin of victory reaffirms that citizens appreciate his leadership and the city's direction.
"It shows that what we're doing is respected by the voters," he said. "We don't plan to change a whole lot. It's just going to be a continuation of what we're doing and where we've been going over the years."
Blair, who unsuccessfully challenged Furness for the office in 1994, ran on the platform that change was needed at the city's helm. He said city leaders are becoming arrogant and needed to be reminded that citizens are the boss.
Despite that assertion, Lane said he was pleased the City Commission candidates stuck to the issues and didn't sling dirt during the campaign.
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"I think the whole campaign stayed focused on the issues," he said. "I think it was a very good process."
Lane said he wasn't ready to claim victory until Wednesday morning because vote totals were coming in slowly, counts were close among three candidates, and he didn't know which of Fargo's 40 precincts had be tallied.
"It was a late night," he said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Matthew Von Pinnon at (701) 241-5528
