VALPARAISO MAYOR ELECTION

After fifty-four years the City of Valparaiso has a new mayor. Brent Smith will take the job previously held by the late Bruce Arnold. Smith, received 321 total votes in Tuesday’s municipal election beating out former Councilman Joe Morgan, who received 309 votes. Superintendent of Elections Paul Lux said the margin of victory was large enough that no recount was needed. Heyward Strong, who had served on the Valparaiso City Commission for 46 years finished in third place with 191 votes. Strong had been appointed mayor following Arnold’s death in February 2017. Turnout for the mayor’s race was 34.7 percent, with a total of 879 ballots cast.