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Hennepin County has a new county attorney in Mike Freeman and new commissioners in Judy Makowske and Peter McLaughlin, but the political power balance at the Government Center will remain about the same.
Liberals missed a good chance to pick up an additional County Board seat when Judy Makowske outhustled Nancy Jones to win the Sixth District seat being vacated by Sam Sivanich. All three are DFLers.
That leaves the board still divided among two liberals, three centrist DFLers and two Independent-Republicans. But despite that continuity there will be some subtle changes.
Makowske, a St. Anthony City Council member, presented herself to voters as an heir to Sivanich. But although they grew out of the same northeast Minneapolis tradition of ethnic politics, Makowske is not a female Sivanich. She also has fewer rough edges than the sometimes-volatile 14-year incumbent.
McLaughlin had little trouble keeping in DFL hands a Minneapolis seat being vacated by Jeff Spartz. Although both are liberals, McLaughlin is considered more ideological than the pragmatic Spartz and more inclined to heed neighborhood organizations. McLaughlin also is expected to challenge the county staff more often.
McLaughlin polled about 60...