GRANITE FALLS — In a race between a controversial mayor and a controversial restaurant owner, voters apparently have sided with the challenger.
Timberline Cafe owner Haroon Saleem held a strong lead over incumbent Mayor Lyle Romack in early returns Tuesday, 277 to 167 — roughly 61 percent to 37 percent.
“It looks pretty darn good,” Saleem said from his restaurant on Tuesday. “We’ve got a packed house here.”
He attributed his lead to dissatisfaction with the current mayor. Romack could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Romack presided over the city during a time when it was found to have broken many state rules for management of records and finances, which included questionable mileage payments to the mayor himself.
The city may have overpaid more than $2,600 for mileage reimbursements for Romack and his wife in 2007 and 2008, according to a state auditor’s report released over the summer.
Romack, 69, said he was entitled to most of the mileage payments. He has repaid $373.89 to the city from receipts that he said were mistakenly submitted twice. The city has hired new personnel and reformed its policies, he said.
For Saleem’s part, his restaurant was recently cited for serving alcohol to a minor. From 2007 to this year, the Timberline Cafe’s cocktail lounge is on record for 13 separate incidents with the state Liquor Control Board. Many of these were complaints that did not result in action by the board.
Saleem, 54, said many of the complaints are part of a campaign of harassment against him by Romack and city police. Police Chief Tony Domish said the restaurant generates a disproportionate number of fights and DUIs.
Saleem said he’s looking forward to getting the city off to a fresh start.
“We are going to work day and night and work very hard for our community and make it the best community we possibly can,” he said.
In other city races, two incumbent city council members appeared headed for victory. Joshua Golston, 32, appointed to the council in August, was leading John Smith 292 to 124, 70 to 30 percent. Elizabeth Adams, 37, was leading opponent Wes Grigg, 254 to 181, 58 to 42 percent.
Councilman Tom FitzGerald ran unopposed.
Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.
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