Update: Ramsey County Election Results 2012

(Second Update: 12:30 a.m.)

With 21 of 21 precincts now reported, DFLer Mary Jo McGuire has defeated Republican Sue Jeffers in a hotly-contested race.

McGuire won 51.4 percent of the vote in outpolling Jeffers, who received 48.09 percent of the total ballots cast.

(Update: 11:30 p.m.)

Late this evening (Tuesday), DFLer Mary Jo McGuire clung to a narrow lead over Republican Sue Jeffers for Ramsey County Board of Commissioners District 2.

With 18 of 21 precincts reporting, McGuire led with 50.8 percent of the vote while Jeffers capturing 48.67 percent of the ballots.

Both candidates said that results from the city of Little Canada were still out.

"We are still cautiously optimistic," McGuire told Roseville Patch.

Meanwhile, Jeffers said supporters were wishing her well, in the midst of the waiting.

(Original post) In the race for Ramsey County Board District 2, Republican Sue Jeffers and DFLer Mary Jo McGuire have touted they each would be the better candidate to be the steward of the taxpayers' money.

Jeffers has contended she would be a fresh voice to the County Board while McGuire insists she has the govermental experience, including several years as a state lawmaker, to represent the best interests of citizens.

Now, Roseville voters will get their chance today (Tuesday) to decide who to elect when they go to the polls. The district also includes New Brighton, Little Canada, Lauderdale, Mounds View precinct 4 and the Ramsey County portion of St. Anthony.

By one measure, McGuire could have an edge in the race because the county has been historically Democratic leaning in its voting. For example, in 2008, President Barack Obama outpaced Republican John McCain by wide margin, garnering 64 percent of the total vote to McCain's 32 percent.

On other hand, rising property taxes have been a hot issue in Roseville and Jeffers' hard-line stand against tax increases might be a plus for her, in the minds of voters. She has also waged an aggressive campaign, reaching some 25,000 homes out on the door-knocking stump.

To find out more about Jeffers,click on to this Roseville Patch story: Jeffers Wants to Stem Rising County Property Taxes.

To learn more about McGuire, see this Patch story: McGuire Touts Legislative Experience in Bid for Ramsey County Board.