Overwhelmed with gratitude.
That is how Republican Daphne Rutenberg summed up her feelings after being elected Tuesday night to the Cloverdale Town Board.
Rutenberg garnered 63.79 percent of the vote (296 votes), while Independent Justin Witt picked up 36.21 percent (168 votes).
The election was bizarre at times as incumbent Brandon Tancak resigned his seat during the spring, Rutenberg won the May Republican primary and Witt was caucused into the seat to fill the rest of the year.
Rutenberg said when she decided to run for the seat, she knew it would not be easy and cited the primary, as well as having to earn voters' trust in the general election.
"But I believed then, and I believe even more strongly tonight, that Cloverdale is worth fighting for. This town isn't just where I live. It's my home. It's where my husband and I are raising our four children. It's where our children go to school, where we work, where we play sports and where we're building our future. I don't just want to see Cloverdale succeed. I have a personal investment in its future because my family's future is right here alongside yours," Rutenberg said.
She also touched on the experience of running as a candidate, and the criticism she and her family faced due to her running.
"I hope we remember this experience not for the hurtful things that were said, but for the lesson that came from it: stand up for what you believe in, do what's right and never let someone else's actions change the person God created you to be. Tonight, I chose gratitude over bitterness, forgiveness over resentment and unity over division... Tonight, sitting here as your newly elected Town Council representative, I can say that I never gave up on Cloverdale, and I never will," said Rutenberg, who added she intends to work to earn the support of those who voted against her as well.
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