Aberdeen voters pick mayor with a hands-off philosophy

Aberdeen?s voters went to the polls in droves Tuesday to oust Mayor S. Fred Simmons in favor of a candidate who had pledged he would return the job to a part-time position.

Informed Tuesday night of the vote totals putting him behind former State Trooper Michael Bennett 1,323-908, Simmons turned back to the philosophies of Ayn Rand and pointed to the “objective truths” of his accomplishments during his two years as mayor: A balanced budget, increased public safety and plans to expand the city?s water and infrastructure to keep up with growth.