Webster, Cummings advance in council race

By Chris Vetter

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- New Ulm attorney Ruth Ann Webster won more than half the vote in Ward 1 voting Tuesday night, and moves on to the general election.

Dennis Cummings, shift manager at Cash Wise, finished well behind Webster but soundly defeated businessman Paul Rieger to take second place in the primary.

The top two vote-getters -- Webster and Cummings -- advance from the primary and will battle for the New Ulm City Council seat Nov. 7. Incumbent Denis Warta did not seek re-election.

Among 406 votes cast in Ward 1, Webster obtained 227, with Cummings scoring 116, while Rieger tallied 63 votes.

Webster, who has worked at Gislason & Hunter law firm since 1981, was pleased with her wide margin of victory.

"I'm thrilled. I'm just thrilled that people would have the confidence in me to vote for me," she said.

Webster credits early organization and hard work for her primary victory.

"I started working on my campaign the day after I filed," she said. "I think I probably worked twice as hard as the other candidates. I think my vote totals reflect my work."

Warta recently endorsed Webster for his seat. Webster said it was an honor to receive the endorsement.

"Denny has done the job, and said I can do it, and that means a lot to me," Webster said.

While Webster awaited word on vote totals at the courthouse, Cummings heard the news of his second-place finish while he was working at the grocery store.

"I'm excited. My excitement is that I beat some of my own challenges," Cummings said. "It's an accomplishment in my life."

Cummings said he isn't nervous about finishing a distant second. He notes there is plenty of time to get his campaign messages out. He plans to focus on door-to-door meetings, and said he does not plan to buy many ads, unlike his opposition.

"I think going door to door... tells you a lot more about a person than signs," Cummings said. "I don't think you have to (buy ads)."

Mandy Helget, Brown County auditor-treasurer, said turnout within the county was about 15 percent, but ran at 24 percent in ward 1.

"That (council) race made a difference of 10 percent," Helget said.

The county-wide turnout was higher than Helget expected. He credits the turnout numbers to the U.S. Senate race.

The League of Women Voters did not hold a debate or forum prior to the primary because the candidates could not agree on a time when they would all be available, said Kaarin Foede, league member. The league will attempt to coordinate debates with the remaining candidates in the coming months, Foede said.

Webster plans on attending every council meeting she can between now and the election to further study the issues.

"This is work, this is a job," she said. "I'm serious about this. I don't want to do anything halfway."

Cummings, who usually works evenings, said his work schedule will not interfere with his ability to attend council meetings, if elected.

"I wouldn't have done this if I thought (work) was a problem," he said.