Svend Aage Eriksen was the radical mayor of Spøttrup Municipality from its establishment in 1970 to 1978.
Eriksen grew up in Haverslev in Himmerland. He trained as a painter and chose to settle in Lem after the town’s local paint shop was put up for sale. In addition to the paint shop, Eriksen owned Vejby autolaker for a period. In connection with his election as mayor, Eriksen quit the business and did not really return after the long break.
Eriksen was a major force in local politics early on and was chairman of the parish council for Lem-Vejby from 1956-70. When elected as parish council chairman, he was the youngest of his kind in Denmark.
After the municipal merger and the creation of Spøttrup Municipality in 1970, Eriksen was elected mayor of the combined municipality.
In the 1978 election, no majority could be found for any mayor, and it ended with a draw, which Eriksen lost to Axel Pedersen. Eriksen was somewhat saddened by this ending to the mayor’s office, where the draw was what made the outcome.
For the subsequent election in 1981, Eriksen quit local politics.
He married Johanne in 1949 and had two children. Eriksen spent his free time in nature, hunting, riding horses and fishing.
Sources
- Skive Folkeblad 21/3-1978, 14/10-2015