Willenburg Challenges Kautz to Rematch

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Jerry Willenburg is making another run at the mayor's office.

On Thursday, Willenburg filed for office, thus beginning round two in the contest with longtime Mayor Elizabeth Kautz. Willenburg vied with Kautz for the seat in 2008 as well. At the time, Willenburg hoped to tap into the controversy surrounding the , which had recently gotten the city council's stamp of approval.

According to a Star Tribune article dating to 2008, he argued that Kautz had been in office for too long and was out of touch with her constituents.

"People are sick and tired -- angry, in fact -- at a city government that is not listening to what they have to say. ... This mayor has been in office a long time," Willenburg said. "I don't drive the same car I drove 14 years ago. I don't have the same job or the same house I had 14 years ago. And I don't want the same mayor I had 14 years ago."

Initially, Willenburg made a strong showing against Kautz, who has won by solid margins since she was elected mayor in 1994. He won the primary by 17 votes, but lost in the general election, garnering 45.69 percent of the vote. Kautz came out on top with 53.89 percent.

So far, no one else has thrown their hat into the ring for the mayoral race. though Council Members Mary Sherry and Dan Gustafson have filed for re-election. Filing for the municipal races will close at 5 p.m. on June 5.

If necessary, a primary will be held on Aug. 14. The general election is set for Nov. 6.