Bern Mayor: Political newcomer cleverly beats longtime council member
Get more election news, results on KSAT Voting page 2023.
The city of Bern has a new mayor.
Frank Ritchie, a political newcomer, handily defeated longtime city council member Nina Woolard in the May 6 election, 76% to 24%.
The current mayor, Tim Hendren, did not seek re-election.
Richie is a mechanic who owns a car repair shop in Bern. He turned down KSAT’s request for a campaign photo.
However, many learned his name in a campaign that was fueled by popular support.
Ritchie worked on a growth management platform in a fast growing city. He didn’t raise funds because he didn’t want to owe anyone anything.
In a March 9 post on his public Facebook page, Ritchie said he prefers not to campaign in the usual way.
“I choose to run for mayor for many reasons, but I also notice that no one else has come forward except my rival Nina, and I wish her all the best,” Richie wrote. “In terms of my qualifications, to be honest, I’m probably not fit if there’s such a thing as being qualified for politics. I am honest, hardworking and believe in being transparent and holding office with integrity and passion for a city that I love very much.”
See the full voting results here.
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