Newcomer Mike Ryan leads in Sunrise mayor race

Sunrise voters appeared to be tossing out incumbent Roger Wishner as mayor in an upset Tuesday, with attorney Mike Ryan taking an early lead.

Retired social worker Imogene Ferguson, 66, gave residents a third choice.

Because of a quirk in the city charter, Wishner can return to his old commission seat even though he lost the mayor's race. His commission term ends in March.

Appointed mayor in January 2009, Wishner, 53, was elected to the City Commission in March 2007. He served as city commissioner from 1987 to 1999 and as state representative from 2000 to 2004.

But it was Ryan, a political newcomer, who won key endorsements from the city's powerful police and fire unions, both of which turned out for him at the polls on Tuesday. Ryan, 46, also won backing from Deputy Mayor Sheila Alu and the Sierra Club.

``This was a grass-roots movement motivated by wanting change in how the city has been led,'' Ryan said late Tuesday. ``This was a victory for the people.''

Resident Michael Silien, 49, showed up at the Sunrise Athletic Complex polling place Tuesday handing out ``Vote for Mike Ryan'' cards. Silien said he remains furious with Wishner and the commission for raising water rates by 40 percent in August 2009.

``I'm going to vote him out,'' Silien said of Wishner.

Helen Clare, a retiree who lives in the Sunrise Lakes condo community, voted for Wishner.

``He's done a lot of good for our community,'' she said. ``I thought he deserved to be re-elected.''

Wishner, who earned $39,000 as mayor, campaigned on a promise to maintain the municipal tax rate while reducing the cost of government. To help close an $8 million budget hole, he urged freezing payrolls to save $4 million next year.

Ryan said he ran because they didn't like how Wishner was running the city.

Had Ferguson been elected, she would have been the city's first black mayor.

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