After the ballots were counted Tuesday, it was determined that the city of Winnebago will have a new mayor.

Randy Nowak has served as the mayor of Winnebago since 2007. When he filed he was running unopposed, but ended up losing the vote to a write-in candidate.

Jeremiah Schutt who’s only 26 years old ran a write-in campaign which resulted in enough votes to win the mayoral race at the Nov. 6 election.

“I’m excited to start working with the council and community of Winnebago,”?he says.

Schutt received 310 write-in votes beating out Nowak, who received 286. There were 11 other write-ins on the ballots for the Winnebago mayor, as well.

“I honestly was shocked to see that I got over 300 votes,”?he says. “I’m pretty happy about the support I’ve gotten from the community.”

That is why Schutt originally decided to begin a write-in campaign because he had the support from the community.

“A couple groups of people came to me with the idea,”?he says. “I thought about it for a long time and decided I would do it.”

Schutt says community members who approached him with the idea were confident that the experience he has had serving on various other boards would make him a good candidate.

Although he is young, he doesn’t lack vision and determination for the city. One of his main goals is to make sure the school in town stays open.

“Without that school, it would deter many young people and families from moving to Winnebago,”?he says. “I will do anything possible to keep that open.”

He also feels strongly about trying to get some more industry back in town.

“That will bring more jobs and more people,” he says. “That’s what’s going to keep the town of Winnebago growing.”

Schutt will begin his term at the start of 2013.

“I thought I’d hear a lot about being so young,”?he says. “But I have only heard positive things. I’m very excited.”

There were also two spots on the ballot for the Winnebago City Council, with three candidates in the running.

Rick Johnson, who has served on the council since 2007, will return for another term, receiving 415 votes.

Jean Anderson and Bob Perryman were also running for a seat on the city council. Anderson won the second open position with 400 votes and Perryman ended up with 178 votes.