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Dicey

A man won an election to be mayor on the roll of a dice

An old state statute says certain elections can be determined by a high card draw or a roll of the dice.

A ROLL OF the dice has determined who will be the next mayor in the South Dakota town of Platte.

Steve Christensen became the next mayor after the town solved its too-close-to-call race with a game of chance.

Christensen and incumbent Mayor Rick Gustad split the vote in the 14 April election. An old state statute says certain elections can be determined by a high card draw or a roll of the dice.

Gustad picked dice as his game of choice. KSFY-TV reports that Christensen rolled a seven to become Platte’s mayor for the next two years. Gustad rolled a four.

The two also ran against one another in 2013, with Gustad winning by six votes.

Christensen is a former police chief. Gustad serves as Platte’s fire chief.

Platte has a population of just 1,244.

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Author
Associated Foreign Press
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