The third time was the charm for Chelsey Haase.

On Monday night, the Blue Earth City Council selected Haase as their choice to fill the open spot on the council that was created when councilman Rick Scholtes was sworn in as mayor in January.

Haase has run for a seat on the council twice in the past, the most recent being last November’s election when she was defeated by incumbent councilman John Huisman 287 to 237 in the Ward 1 race.

On Monday night, Huisman joined his fellow councilmen in casting a unanimous vote for Haase to fill the spot. However, Huisman’s first choice had been one of the other two candidates for the seat.

The council spent their half hour work session interviewing the three before making a decision later in the evening during the regular meeting.

Besides Haase, both Ron Fox and Darrin Germann had filled out applications for the open position.

The council interviewed each person individually, with the other two waiting outside the meeting room.

During her interview, Haase told the council that she is married, has two young children, and works as a substitute teacher. She is going to school to get her teaching degree as well.

She says she has done research on the issues before the council from the time when she first ran for a council seat.

Haase says she might be more approachable to young people with families, and she will work with them in mind.

When asked what single thing she might champion while on the council, she responded that she would like to work to improve the city’s parks and recreation facilities and make them safe havens for young families to go to.

Other areas she cited in her application included working for job development, the new industrial park, activities for youth and keeping downtown marketable.

Haase has lived in Blue Earth for just over seven years. She is serving on several local boards and committees including Little Giants Parent Advisory Committee, AgStar Young, Beginning and Small Farmers Advisory Committee and the Blue Earth Area Mentors (BEAM) Advisory Board.

Besides going back for a teaching degree, Haase received a degree from St. Cloud State University in geography – travel & tourism. She worked for several years in management at two businesses as well as marketing the services of one of those businesses, before moving to Blue Earth with her family.

Prior to the vote to fill the open spot on the council, Scholtes polled the other councilmen, asking each one for their top picks.

All the councilmen said they felt all three persons were excellent candidates and thanked them for applying.

Huisman said he favored Fox and Councilman Dan Brod favored Germann, but councilmen Glenn Gaylord, Russ Erichsrud, John Gartzke and Mayor Scholtes all favored Haase.

The actual vote, however, was unanimous.

Several minutes later Haase cast her first vote as a member of the council, helping approve a resolution of support for the new industrial park to be located north of I-90.