• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Two newcomers to take Elkhorn City Council seats

Photo

Gerald A. Norton

Photo

Kimberly A. DeHaan

ELKHORN — Voters chose two fresh faces for Elkhorn’s City Council, electing two political newcomers over incumbents Tuesday.

Gerald Norton, 72, of 1219 MacLean Road, was elected to represent Elkhorn’s 2nd District with 83 votes, defeating incumbent Gary Payson Sr., who received 49 votes. Kim DeHaan, 47, of 305 W. Oak Lane, received 109 votes in District 5 against incumbent Charles Van Dyke, who received 74 votes.

“I’m well known in the community,” Norton said. “People know how I do business and how I work.”

Despite winning by what he called a “fair” margin, Norton said he was disappointed by Tuesday’s low voter turnout. He blamed a lack of contested races in the area.

DeHaan, who won with 109 votes, said she was surprised her opponent received the number of votes he did.

“I thought he’d have less,” she said of Van Dyke’s 74 votes. “So many people wanted the change; it just seemed that people were ready for change.”

DeHaan said her first line of action would be to listen to what is going on at the city council before stirring the pot or causing “too much of a commotion.” But eventually, that’s what she hopes to do.

“I’m thankful for people giving me a chance,” DeHaan added. “Because it is something so new to me, I need a little bit of time to learn what is going on before going full force.”

Norton and DeHaan are expected to attend the council’s next meeting Monday, April 20, at City Hall, 9 S. Broad St.