Filing for elected office has started

The filing period for elected offices opened this week, and two Cloquet city councilors are already on the list to run again. Ward 4 councilor Kerry Kolodge and Ward 3 councilor Iris Keller both filed affidavits of candidacy at City Hall on Tuesday.

The Ward 3 race is for two years only. Keller was appointed to fill the seat until the next election when former councilor Chris Swanson moved outside of Ward 3; this election will determine who represents Ward 3 for the remainder of that four-year term.

Other Cloquet City Council positions up for election Nov. 5 include wards 4, 5 and the at-large council seat, with terms of four years each. Residents may file affidavits of candidacy through June 4 at Cloquet City Hall, 101 14th St. in Cloquet. Summer hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30-11:30 a.m. on Fridays. City Hall will remain open until 5 p.m. June 4.

The filing period is the same for Carlton Soil and Water Conservation districts 1, 4 and 5 supervisors and Carlton County Board of Commissioner seats in districts 1, 3 and 5.

So far, incumbent Tom Proulx has filed to continue representing most of Cloquet in the District 3 seat, while John Puera, Jason Syrett and Chad Walsh have filed to replace Gary Peterson on the county board in District 5. The district spans the western half of Carlton County, including Cromwell, Wright, Kettle River and Moose Lake.

Peterson is not seeking reelection after serving three terms. Both Syrett and Walsh are former Moose Lake police officers.

Earlier this month, Dick Brenner said he would not seek reelection in District 1 after serving 32 years in the seat, representing west Cloquet, Scanlon and Sawyer. Through Wednesday, no filings have been registered by the secretary of state’s office in that race.

Candidates seeking county office file at the Carlton County Courthouse.

All candidates must meet residency requirements for their race, be 21 or older upon assuming office, and eligible to vote in Minnesota.