I am humbled and honored to serve as your new city council representative.

With this election behind us, it is now time to focus on building the cohesiveness of our community. My goals are simple, listen to the ideas and needs of our community and express those thoughts, as best I can, to the council for consideration. I pledge to work hard and do the research necessary to properly question and debate the issues.

I want to thank all of the people that supported me, and ask those that did not to give me the chance to impress them. I have met a lot of very good people while campaigning, many with very diverse ideas. I want to say, I will keep an open mind when considering any proposal. But will concentrate on maintaining a fiscally responsible budget.

Thank you again for this opportunity and honor to serve this great community.

Jay Whiting

Shakopee city council member-elect

I am honored to be choosen to continue representing the taxpayers of Shakopee. Thank you to those that voted for me and thank you to those that opted to vote regardless of the candidate.

I do not view the differing of opinions by the newly elected as personal attacks, instead, I view the differing positions as representing the people from multiple perspectives. I have always supported prioritizing city services, in this global economic situation we are in, my priority is the financial well-being of the taxpayers of Shakopee. I believe our community is stronger when our residents and businesses have more personal financial flexability. To divide a newly elected Council and Mayor prior to being sworn in serves absolutely no benefit to the taxpayers or those elected to represent the community. We (Council as a body) can make the community better whether thats tax cuts or new amenities,re-prioritizing services, or a combination of both. The Council as a body must decide this direction and vision with citizen input recognizing no single elected member including the Mayor has the authority to act alone. You cant spend your way to prosparity, nor can all the toys in the world create true happiness. Tomorrow is veterans day, please find a way to thank those that have given so much to ensure our rights and freedoms.

Again, It is an honor and privilege to serve the taxpayers of Shakopee as a City Council Member, I shall do my very best to represent you!

Matt Lehman

I would like to thank all the candidates that ran this year. Most are working full-time jobs on top of running a campaign, and that's not easy with people's schedules.

Also a tip of the cap to Shannon for her outstanding election coverage. As a reader, it wad very helpful in going beyond the name to understand the values and philosophies of each candidate with the profiles.

Lehman had better keep both Tabke and Whiting in check or the people on fixed income will be forced to take out a second mortgage to pay for the property tax increase which is inevitable if those two have their way.

OnlyMe1 You mean that you don't think that the sky is falling like everyone else ???? Seems to be a given here to some that Tabke is going to tax us to death and(gasp) actually try and better Shakopee... And Fair-Election, think you have it wrong..I'm hoping Tabke can keep Lehman in check

So Tabke got 54.4% of the vote and Schmitt got 45.6%. A big congratulations to Mayor Elect Tabke! Think what Shakopee might become when we are no longer content to just be what we have always been! There is so much untapped potential here.

I would bet Money that Mayor Elect Tabke, will not be able to get anything done. Mostly due to reality and the other due to being overwhelmed. Good Luck Mayor Elect Tabke. To the people who did not vote, I don't want to hear it when Taxes start increasing to fund the "Pie in the sky" dream he ran. But we elected him. Congratulations to all that won!!!

Congratulations Mr. Tabke. Now that you have been elected, let's see if you can come up with the plan and vision you have been promising and say we so desperately need. It's just too bad that you couldn't get elected on your platform instead you got elected by going after the current mayor personally.

Hold on to your wallets Shakopee citizens...it could be an expensive two years!!!

People have been paying attention...that is why Brad is our new mayor

This not a statement for or against anyone, I just think the voter turn-out was disappointing and possibly not a reflection of "the peaple have spoken". Perhaps they "spoke" by not showing up.

Also, this is new leadership and we need to pay attention. Not because I don't like the results, but rather as a reminder.

Spell-check "People".

Well rfennern... I HAVE been paying attention, for years now and it seems to me that a new mayor might be the answer to some issues! Yes it would have been nice to see more people show up to vote but it is what it is and the best man won... Congratulations Brad, I believe you will do great things!

With less than 5000 voters in a town of 25,000 , I would hardly say the people have spoken. It is a pity so few showed up to vote for such an important race as the mayor. Pay attention these next 2 years, it is always a good idea to keep new leadership accountable.

Fantastic!!! the people have spoken!!!!

Congratulations Brad!!!!

Thank you all! i can't even imagine the great things that are ahead of us!

Congratulations Brad! Thanks for Stepping Up!