Town of Larkspur elects new mayor

The voters of Larkspur elected a new mayor and two new councilmembers in the April 3 election.

With a turnout of 85 people out of 142 registered voters, Larkspur’s residents named Gerry Been as their choice to replace former Mayor Sherilyn West, who retired from her post mid-term.

Been prevailed in the campaign over Ed Blanchard and will serve the remainder of West’s term.

Been is a resident of Larkspur whose great-grandparents homesteaded in Valley Park, about three miles south of Perry Park, in the late 1800s, he said. His mother was born in Larkspur in 1929 and he has lived in Larkspur since he was 6 years old.

Been, 52, was a councilmember from 1988 to 1994 and in 2011 was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board. He first ran for mayor about 25 years ago, losing that race by three votes, he said.

His main focus during his term will be water, sewer, roads and the town park, he said.

“I felt it was my obligation to run for mayor because I know the town very well and feel I can do a good job,” Been said. “I am extremely excited and totally appreciate the people that took the time to vote. I’m looking forward to serving the community.”

The 2012 election brought additional turnover on town council, where two incumbents faced a field of three challengers in a five-way race for three council seats. The seats went to the top three vote-getters in the election.

Incumbent Joseph Jeske walked away with the highest number of votes in the election, securing his seat for a second term with 61 votes.

Challengers Lester Burch, with 47 votes, and Jennelle VanGorder, with 45 votes, ousted incumbent Eve Curry-Harbison.

Curry, who was elected to town council in 2008, garnered the lowest number of votes of the night, with 31 votes. She joined Florence Burch, who walked away with 36 votes, as the challengers who walked away without a council seat.

The councilmembers-elect will serve four year terms, beginning with their April 5 induction ceremonies.

 

Larkspur 2012 election results

Office of Mayor

Gerry Been – 59 votes

Ed Blanchard – 17

 

Town council

Joseph Jeske – 61 votes

Lester Burch – 47

Jennelle VanGorder – 45

Florence Burch – 36

Eve Curry-Harbison – 31