MADRID, Iowa—It has been a contentious special election in Madrid and voters have elected a new mayor.  Thomas W. Brown is the unofficial winner of Tuesday’s election, collecting 577 votes to 184 for Kurt Kruse and 20 for Johnathan Whitten.  Because the special election was held, Brown will assume the mayor’s duties once the results have been canvased which is scheduled for next Tuesday by the Boone County Supervisors.

Steve Burich has returned to the council as a 2nd Ward council member, defeating Eric Ohrt 186 to 98.  Ohrt was appointed to fill the 2nd Ward council seat when Kurt Kruse was appoint to fill the vacancy as Mayor.

Voter turnout was at 39% which is higher than the last regular city election in Madrid when fewer than 20% of the eligible voters cast ballots.  During the last General Election, voter turnout was over 75%.