Article published Nov 8, 2007

Stebbins reflects on win in tight race

By RICHARD ECKE

Tribune Staff Writer

Mayor Dona Stebbins got up early Wednesday and began taking phone calls congratulating her on a narrow re-election victory in the Great Falls mayoral race.

"I'm just relieved that it's over," she said. "People can be so nasty."

Some sharp criticism aimed at the mayor was generated online. As a result, Stebbins said she pretty much has stopped reading online blogs, in which people often tee off against politicians and others.

Stebbins squeaked through Tuesday with a win, garnering 4,100 votes, or 40.7 percent. She edged out newcomer Ed McKnight, a property manager who received 3,824 votes, or 38 percent. Stebbins' margin of victory was 276 votes.

McKnight said on election night he believed the presence of another coal-plant skeptic in the mayoral race, Susan Kahn, diluted the vote. A fourth candidate, Larry H. Steele, strongly backed the coal plant, but opposed the city's involvement in the Highwood Generating Station project.

Had all of Steele's supporters gone to Stebbins, and all of Kahn's supporters to McKnight, McKnight would have won, the numbers show.

Stebbins questions such speculation, saying she still believes she would have won a head-to-head race with McKnight.

"I think that's a small modicum of sour grapes," Stebbins said. "The vote was what the vote was."

Two years ago, Stebbins upset incumbent Mayor Randy Gray, urging more openness in government, questioning the independence of commissioners from City Manager John Lawton, and saying she was concerned about potential mercury pollution from the Highwood plant.

After the 2005 election, "I did my research" on the plant, Stebbins said. She concluded the environmental effects from the plant would be minimal, and "we need the energy."

Stebbins said given the makeup of the new commission, it's very possible the coal plant opponents will have less support on the commission than they do today.

The mayor said she believes various issues were factors in the race, including the coal plant.

"The single-issue candidates did not fare well," she said. For instance, commission candidate Stuart Lewin finished fourth and out of the running. Lewin had said a vote for him was a vote against the power plant.

Was running as an incumbent this year more difficult for Stebbins than running as a challenger last election?

"Oh, sure," she said, "because you've got a track record."

Stebbins said she looks forward to working with new commissioners Mary Jolley and Bill Bronson.

"Mary is a reasonable person," Stebbins said. And she called Bronson "a good thinker."

Stebbins said she doesn't plan to extend an olive branch to people who voted against her.

"I think the only olive branch they'd be interested in is the demise of the coal plant," Stebbins said. "That's not an olive branch. That's a whole tree."

The mayor has taken some heat for the way she runs meetings. However, Stebbins said she believes the current system "is working just fine" and people are doing "less rambling" with a five-minute limit on speaking during the commission's public comment period.

"I think people are really thinking about what they have to say," she said.

As a presiding officer, Stebbins said she wants to keep the meeting under control.

"You either run the meeting or the meeting runs you," Stebbins said.

Although Tuesday's election offered no clear verdict on the power-plant issue, Stebbins said she expects to continue to hear from members of the public at city meetings, including coal-plant opponents.

"I don't expect them all to dig a hole and crawl in it," she said.

Later Wednesday, Stebbins hoped to take a little break, if the phone ever stopped ringing.

"I think I'm going to take a nap," she said hopefully.

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Richard Ecke at recke@greatfallstribune.com, or at 406-791-1467 or 800-438-6600.