Police chief Tom Shaw won 55% of the vote and will run for the Republicans this fall. He is attempting to succeed Dolores Mertz as Iowa state representative. Shaw began his campaign a year ago as an independent, but joined the Republican race in late 2009. He upset Algona physician Steve Richards who had nearly won the seat from Mertz in 2008. That race was so close it forced a recount of the ballots. Shaw was outspent by Richards this spring, but won everywhere outside of Richards's home county of Kossuth.
Shaw will run against Algona educator Susan Bangert. Ironically Bangert is married to the Algona police chief. She works for the area education association as a speech and language specialist.
More on Shaw here, and on Bangert here.
