Acting City Clerk Vandermyde wins Morrison mayor’s race

MORRISON – Acting City Clerk Scott Vandermyde handily defeated mayoral opponent Vernon Tervelt in Tuesday’s only contested race in the city.

With a total of 580 ballots cast, Vandermyde had 473 to Tervelt’s 105, according to the unofficial election results.

Vandermyde, 57, had a gathering of friends and family on Tuesday evening at the home he shares with his father, Dick Vandermyde. The elder Vandermyde, 90, said he was very proud of his son for running for office.

“He’s the greatest, he takes care of me,” he said, adding that he moved to Morrison from Prophetstown in 1960 and so Scott is “bred and born in Morrison.”

New Mayor Vandermyde retired after 33 years as an actuary for variety of insurance companies and one “Big Four” accounting firm. He’s been the acting city clerk since July, and this was his first run for office.

He’s a member of First Presbyterian Church in Morrison, where he’s a ruling elder, organist, and financial team member, and he’s been a member of the Rotary Club of Morrison since last year.

His vision includes guiding Main Street Redevelopment, which has been years in the making and finally will break ground this month.

“Every best laid plan will have hiccups, and the mayor’s job is keeping the business owners on Main Street satisfied during the process,” he said during his campaign.

He also wants to look into public building consolidation, noting that city workers are in too many geographically dispersed locations, and to attract businesses to Main Street and the vacant GE property.

He thanked the community for its support.

“I am grateful for all the support from everyone.” he said. “Signs, phone calls, conversations. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”