Update (4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13) – A few new names have joined the fray for this fall’s election. An additional candidate was added to the field for St. Michael-Albertville School Board, and Brad Cedegren of Albertville is now challenging Mayor Jillian Hendrickson for the top seat in Albertville. Two new candidates have also emerged in the hunt for Hanover City Council
The filing period for municipal races closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, even as voters hit the polls to vote in the 2014 Primary Election.
Here’s a breakdown of the races by city and the St. Michael-Albertville School District (Elk River and Monticello host off-year school board elections).
Albertville
Rob Olson has filed for city council, while Mayor Jillian Hendrickson has also put in her paperwork. Both are incumbents, and Hendrickson is attempting to win her third election after two years on city council.
Brad Cedergren, local business owner and former Chaplain in the United State Army National Guard, has filed to challenge Hendrickson. It’s his first shot at local government.
Dan Wagner’s seat remains open, with no one filed to fill that spot. Wagner, who is behind only John Vetsch in tenure, has told North Wright County Today he is stepping aside to spend time with his kids. A write-in campaign will most likely be used to fill the seat, or the council will have to do so by appointment.
Buffalo
All three incumbents – Mayor Brad Neuman and council members Scott Enter and Steven Downer – have filed. With those three spots available, it’s clear sailing for those men so far.
Hanover
Four challengers have joined member Ken Warpula in vying for the two seats up for election. Jim Jajicek and Joe Kaul are both in the race. Joining late Tuesday were Nathan Brown and Doug Nordberg, bringing the field to five candidates for the two open seats. Coucil member Wendy Pinor, whose seat is up this year,did not fiel. according to the Minnesota State Secretary of State’s Office.
Monticello
History will be made here as Clint Herbst, who has been on the council or in the mayor’s chair over the span of most of the 2000s and 2010s, will step down. Brian Stumpf, a current council member, will be challenged by Josh Dickinson, a local business owner and former candidate, and Glen Posusta, a longtime council member, for mayor.
With Stumpf’s seat wide open, Lloyd Hilgart is the lone incumbent, and he has filed for another term. He’ll square off with Brad Fyle (a former hospital board member), Charlotte Gabler and Jim Davidson for the two council seats up in November.
Otsego
Two council seats are up for election, and both incumbents have filed. Tom Darkenwald (who ran for county commission in 2012) and Vern Heidner have both field to retain their seats. They’ll be challenged by Paul Bolin (a GOP State House hopeful two years ago) and Pat Brink.
St. Michael
Mayor Jerry Zachman has thrown his hat back into the ring. For the first time in four years, he’ll have a challenger, as Jennifer Pederson has filed to run for the top spot in St. Mike.
At the council level, Nadine Schoen is the lone incumbent running, as fellow member Kevin Kasel put together a run at the GOP State House. She will face a field full of challengers, including longtime civil servant David Dayon, former candidate Cody Gulick (from 2012), Jeffrey Nied and Keith Wettschreck, which makes five candidates for two spots here.
ISD No. 885
There are three seats up for election in the St. Michael-Albertville School District, which means a tight race here. Jeff Lindquist, Doug Birk and Gayle Weber – all current members – have filed to hang on to those seats. Challenger Jennifer Lee Peyerl, who did not run in 2012, is also in the mix as of 1 p.m. Tuesday, as is fellow newcomer Lisa Gray.