Warren Erickson, Annette Thompson sworn in to Prior Lake City Council

Prior Lake American

The results of the November election were made official on Monday as councilmembers Annette Thompson and Warren Erickson were sworn in for four-year terms on the Prior Lake City Council.

Neither is new to the council — Thompson won her re-election bid in November with almost 43 percent of the total vote, or 7,210 votes. Erickson served on the council from 2005 to 2012 and received 4,810 votes in the November election.

Erickson was sworn in by his grandson, who also swore him in for his previous terms. Thompson’s husband swore her in.

Thompson has lived in Prior Lake for 33 years with her husband, Scott. She spent three decades in information technology work before retiring and becoming a full-time city councilor.

Most recently, Thompson opposed a proposed tax levy increase of 6.7 percent. The final levy increase was 5.8 percent.

Thompson also voted against hiring a consultant firm in August to search for the next city manager after the retirement of current City Manager Frank Boyles was announced.

She supported land annexations from Credit River Township and Spring Lake Township, which could be used for industrial or commercial development in the future.

Erickson has lived in Prior Lake for 30 years. He has one daughter and four grandchildren. He is retired but has volunteered at the last five Olympic games and plans to volunteer at the 2020 games in Tokyo.

Both candidates previously said they would want to maintain and promote both the “small-town feel” of Prior Lake and commercial growth within the city.

Erickson said the biggest issue facing Prior Lake besides growth was public safety, whereas Thompson said rising costs of road projects, equipment and personnel were among her primary concerns.

Erickson took the seat of former council member Mike McGuire, who did not seek re-election. McGuire worked as Prior Lake city administrator from 1973 to 1987. In 2013, McGuire was appointed to an open council seat.

McGuire said he decided not to run in 2018 when he saw the quality of the candidates who had filed.